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\ 







THE 


PIONEERS, 


OR THE 

SOUKCES OF THE SUSqUEHANNA; 


A DESORZPTXVB TAI<B. 

BY THE AUTHOR OF “THE SPY » 



Extremes of habits, manners, time and space, 
Brought ciose together, here stood face to face, 

And gave at once a contrast to the view. 

That other lands and ages never knew.— Pawfi/jr^. 


IN TWO VOLUMES. 
VOL. I 



* A NEW EDITION. 



Pulcitrclphta : 

CAREY, LEA, & BLANCHARD. 


1836 


'Vlo 


\ 


Southern District of New-York^ ss. 

BE it remembered, that on the seventeenth day of October, in the forty 
seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America, Charles 
Wiley, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the 
right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit : 

“ The Pioneers, or the Sources of the Susquehanna ; a Descriptive Tale. 
By the Author of ‘ Precaution.’ 

‘ Extremes of habits, manners, time, and space. 

Brought close together, here stood face to face. 

And gave at once a contrast to the view. 

That other lands and ages never knew.’ — Paulding.'^ 

In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United State^ entitled, “ An Act 
for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and 
books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein 
mentioned and also to an Act, entitled, “ An Act, supplementary to an Act, 
entitled. An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of 
maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during 
the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of 
designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.” 

JAMES DILL, 

Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. 


X. I 

V 





/ 


TO 


JACOB SUTHERLAND, 

OF BLENHEIM, SCHOHARIE, 

ESQUIRE. 

The length of our friendship would be a suffi- 
cient reason for prefixing j^our name to these 
pages ; but your residence so near the scene of the 
tale, and your familiarity with much of the charac- 
ter and kind of life that I have attempted to de- 
scribe, render it more peculiarly proper. You, at 
least, dear Sutherland, will not receive this dedi- 
cation as a cold compliment, but as an evidence 
of the feeling that makes me, 

Warmly and truly. 

Your friend, 



PREFACE. 


— — 

TO MR. CHARLES WILEY, Bookseller. 

Every man is, more or less, the sport of acci- 
dent ; nor do I know that authors are at all ex- 
empted from this humiliating influence. This is 
the third of my novels, and it depends on two ve- 
ry uncertain contingencies, whether it will not be 
the last : — the one being the public opinion, and 
the other mine own humour. The first book was 
written, because I was told that I could not write 
a grave tale ; so, to prove that the world did not 
know me, I wrote one that was so grave nobody 
would read it ; wherein I think that I had much 
the best of the argument. The second was writ- 
ten to see if I could not overcome this neglect of 
the reading world. How far I have succeeded, 
Mr. Charles Wiley, must ever remain a secret 
between ourselves. The third has been written, 
exclusively, to please myself : so it would be no 
wonder if it displeased every body else ; for what 
1 * 


6 


PREFACE. 


two ever thought alike, on a subject of the imagina- 
tion ? 

I should think criticism to be the perfection of 
human acquirements, did there not exist this dis- 
crepancy in taste. Just as I have made up my 
mind to adopt the very sagacious hints of one learn- 
ed Reviewer, a pamphlet is put into my hands, 
containing the remarks of another, who condemns 
all that his rival praises, and praises all that his ri- 
val condemns. There I am, left like an ass be- 
tween two locks of hay ; so that I have deter- 
mined to relinquish my animate nature, and remain 
stationary, like a lock of hay between two asses. 

It is now a long time, say the wise ones, since 
the world has been told all that is new and novel. 
But the Reviewers (the cunning wights!) have 
adopted an ingenious expedient, to give a freshness 
to the most trite idea. They clothe it in a lan- 
guage so obscure and metaphysical, that the reader 
is not about to comprehend their pages without 
some labour. This is called a great “ range of 
thought and not improperly, as I can testify ; 
for, in my own case, I have frequently ranged the 
universe of ideas, and come back again in as per- 
fect ignorance of their meaning as when I set out. 
It is delightful, to see the literati of a circulating 
library get hold of one of these difficult periods ! 
Their praise of the performance is exactly com- 
mensurate with its obscurity. Every body knows, 
that to seem wise is the first requisite in a great 
man. 


PREFACE. 


7 


A common word in the mouths of all Review- 
ers, readers of magazines, and young ladies, when 
speaking of novels, is “ keeping and yet there 
are but few who attach the same meaning to it. 

I belong, myself, to the old school, in this particu- 
lar, and think that it applies more to the subject 
in hand, than to any use of terms, or of cant expres- 
sions. As a man might Just as well be otlt of the ^ 
world as out of “ keeping,” I have endeavoured to 
confine myself, in this tale, strictly to its observ- 
ance. This is a formidable curb to the imagina- 
tion, as, doubtless, the reader will very soon dis- 
cover ; but under its influence I have come to the 
conclusion, that the writer of a tale, who takes the 
earth for the scene of his story, is in some degree 
bound to respect human nature. Therefore I 
would advise any one, who may take up this book, 
with the expectation of meeting gods and goddess- 
es, spooks or witches, or of feeling that strong ex- 
citement that is produced by battles and murders, 
to throw it aside at once, for no such interest will 
be found in any of its pages. 

I have already said that it was mine own humour 
that suggested this tale ; but it is a humour that is 
deeply connected with feeling. Happier periods, 
more interesting events, and possibly, more beau- 
teous scenes, might have been selected, to exem- 
plify my subject ; but none of either that would be 
so dear to me. I wish, therefore, to be judged 
more by what I have done, than by my sins of 
omission. I have introduced one battle, but k is 


8 


PREFACE. 


not of the most Homeric kind. As for murders, 
the population of a new country will not admit of 
such a waste of human life. There might possibly 
have been one or two hangings, to the manifest ad- 
vantage of the “ settlement but then it would 
have been out of “ keeping” with the humane laws 
of this compassionate countr 3 ^ 

The Pioneers” is now before the world, Mr. 
Wiley, and I shall look to you for the only true 
account of its reception. The critics may write as 
obscurely as they please, and look much wiser than 
they are ; the papers may puff or abuse, as their 
changeful humours dictate ; but if you meet me 
with a smiling face, I shall at once know that all 
is essentially well. 

If you should ever have occasion for a preface, I 
beg you will let me hear from you in reply. 

Yours, truly, 

THE AUTHOR. 

New-York^ January 1823. 


THE PIONEERS 


OR THE 

SOURCES OF THE SVSOUEBANNA. 



CHAPTER 1. 


See, Winter comes, to rule the varied year, 
Sullen and ead, with all his rising train ; 
Vapours, and clouds, and storms — 

Thomson. 


Near the centre of the great State of New-York 
lies an extensive district of country, whose surface 
is a succession of hills and dales, or^ to speak with 
greater deference to geographical definitions, of 
mountains and valleys. It is among these hills that 
the Delaware takes its rise ; and flowing from the 
limpid lakes and thousand springs of this country, 
the numerous sources of the mighty Susquehanna 
meander through the valleys, until, uniting, they 
form one of the proudest streams of which the old 
United States could boast. The mountains are 
generally arable, to the top, although instances are 
not wanting, where their sides are jutted with 
rocks, that aid greatly in giving that romantic cha- 
racter to the country, which it so eminently pos- 
sesses. The vales are narrow, rich, and cultivated ; 
with a stream uniformly winding through each, 


10 


THE PIOK^EERS. 


now gliding peacefully under the brow of one of 
the hills, and then suddenly shooting across the 
plain, to wash the feet of its opposite rival. Beau- 
tiful and thriving villages are found interspersed 
along the margins of the small lakes, or situated at 
those points of the streams which are favourable to 
manufacturing; and neat and comfortable farms, 
with every indication of wealth about them, are 
scattered profusely through the vales, and even to 
the mountain tops. Roads diverge in every direc- 
tion, from the even and graceful bottoms of the 
valleys, to the most rugged and intricate passes of 
the hills. Academies, and minor edifices for the 
encouragement of learning, meet the eye of the 
stranger, at every few miles, as he winds his way 
through this uneven territory ; and places for the 
public worship of God abound with that frequency 
which characterizes a moral and reflecting people, 
and with that variety of exterior and canonical go- 
vernment which flows from unfettered liberty of 
conscience. In short, the whole district is hourly 
exhibiting how much can be done, in even a rug- 
ged country, and with a severe climate, under the 
dominion of mild la^ s, and where every man feels 
a direct interest in the prosperity of a common- 
wealth, of which he knows himself to form a dis- 
tinct and independent part. The expedients of 
the pioneers who first broke ground in the settle- 
ment of this country, are succeeded by the perma- 
nent improvements of the yeoman, who intends to 
leave his remains to moulder under the sod which 
he tills, or, perhaps, of the son, who, born in the 
land, piously wishes to linger around the grave of 
his father. Only forty years have passed since 
this whole territory was a wilderness. 

Very soon after the establishment of the inde- 
pendence of the States by the peace of 1783, the 


.THE PIONEERS. 


U 


enterprise of their citizens was directed to a deve- 
lopement of the natural advantages of their widely 
extended dominions. Before the war of the revolu- 
tion the inhabited parts of the colony of New- York 
were limited to less than a tenth of her possessions. 
A narrow belt of country, extending for a short 
distance on either side of the Hudson, with a simi- 
lar occupation of fifty miles on the banks of the 
Mohawk, together with the islands of Nassau and 
Staten, and a few insulated settlements on chosen 
land along the margins of streams, composed the 
country that was then inhabited by less than two 
hundred thousand souls. Within the short period 
we have mentioned, her population has spread itself 
over five degrees of latitude and seven of longi- 
tude, and has swelled to the powerful number of 
nearly a million and a half, who are maintained in 
abundance, and can look forward to ages before the 
evil day must arrive, when their possessions will 
become unequal to their wants. 

Our tale begins in 1793, about seven years after 
the commencement of one of the earliest of those 
settlements, which have conduced to effect that 
magical change in the power and condition of the 
state, to which we have alluded. 

It was near the setting of the sun, on a clear, 
cold day in December of that year, when a sleigh 
was moving slowly up one of the mountains in the 
district which we have described. The day had 
been fine for the season, and but two or three large 
clouds, whose colour seemed brightened by the 
light reflected from the mass of snow that covered 
the earth, floated in a sky of the purest blue. The 
road wound along the brow of a precipice, and on 
one side was upheld by a foundation of logs, piled 
for many feet, one upon the other, while a narrow 
excavation in the mountain, in the opposite direc- 


12 


THE PIONEERS. 


tion, had made a passage of sufficient width for th6 
ordinary travelling of that day. But logs, exca- 
vation, and every thing that did not reach for se- 
veral feet above the earth, lay promiscuously bu- 
ried under the snow. A single track, barely wide 
enough to receive the sleigh, denoted the route of 
the highway, and this was sunken near two feet 
below the surrounding surface. In the vale, which 
lay at a distance of several hundred feet beneath 
them, there was what in the language of the coun- 
try was called a clearing^ and all the usual im- 
provements of a new settlement ; these even ex- 
tended up the hill to the point where the road 
turned short and ran across the level land, which 
lay on the summit of the mountain ; but the sum- 
I mit itself yet remained a forest. There was a 
glittering in the atmosphere, as if it were filled 
with innumerable shining particles, and the noble 
bay horses that drew the sleigh were covered, in 
many parts, with a coat of frost. The vapour from 
their nostrils was seen to issue like smoke ; and 
every object in the view, as well as every arrange- 
ment of the travellers, denoted the depth of a win- 
ter in the mountains. The harness, which w^as 
of a deep dull black, differing from the glossy var- 
nishing of the present day, was ornamented with 
enormous plates and buckles of brass, that shone 
like gold in the transient beams of the sun, wffiich 
found their way obliquely through the tops of the 
trees. Huge saddles, studded with nails of the 
same material, and fitted with cloth that admirably 
served as blankets to the shoulders of the animals, 
supported four high, square-topped turrets, through 
which the stout reins led from the mouths of the 
horses to the hands of the driver, who was a negro, 
of apparently twenty years of age. His face, which 
nature had coloured with a glistening black, was 


THE PIONEERS. 


IS 


now mottled with the cold, and his large shining 
eyes were moistened with a liquid that flowed 
from the same cause ; still there was a smiling ex 
pression of good humour in his happy countenance, 
that was created by the thoughts of his home, and 
a Christmas fire-side, with its Christmas frolics. 
The sleigh was one of those large, comfortable, 
old-fashioned conveyances, which would admit a 
whole family within its bosom, but which now con- 
tained only two passengers besides the driver. Its 
outside was a modest green, and its inside of a fiery 
red, that was intended to convey the idea of heat 
in that cold climate. Large buffalo skins, trimmed 
around the edges with red cloth, cut into festoons, 
covered the back of the sleigh, and were spread 
over its bottom, and drawn up around the feet of 
the travellers — one of whom was a man of middle 
age, and the other a female, just entering upon 
womanhood. The former was of a large stature ; 
but the precautions he had taken to guard against 
the cold left but little of his person exposed to 
view. A great-coat, that was abundantly orna- 
mented, if it were not made more comfortable, by 
a profusion of furs, enveloped the whole of his 
figure, excepting the head, which was covered with 
a cap of martin skins, lined with morocco, the sides 
of which were made to fall, if necessary, and were 
now drawn close over the ears, and were fastened 
beneath his chin with a black riband ; its top was 
surmounted with the tail of the animal whose skin 
had furnished the materials for the cap, which fell 
back, not ungracefully, a few inches behind the 
head. From beneath this masque were to be seen 
part of a fine manly face, and particularly a pair of 
expressive, large blue eyes, that promised extraor- 
dinary intellect, covert humour, and great bene- 
volence. The form of his companion was literal- 

VOL. I. 2 


14 


THE PIONEEKS. 


ly hid beneath the multitude and variety of gar- 
ments which she wore. There were furs and silks 
peeping from under a large camlet cloak, with a 
thick flannel lining, that, by its cut and size, was 
evidently intended for a masculine wearer. A huge 
hood of black silk, that was quilted with down, 
concealed the whole of her head, except at a small 
opening in front for breath, through which occa- 
sionally sparkled a pair of animated eyes of the 
deepest black. 

Both the father and daughter (for such was the 
connexion between the travellers) were too much 
occupied with their different reflections to break 
the stillness, that received little or no interruption 
from the easy gliding of the sleigh, by the sound 
of their voices. The former was thinking of the 
wife that had held this their only child fondly to 
her bosoni, when, four years before, she had re- 
luctantly consented to relinquish the society of her 
daughter, in order that the latter might enjoy the 
advantages which the city could afford to her edu- 
cation. A few months afterward death had de- 
prived him of the remaining companion of his soli- 
tude ; but still he had enough of real regard for his 
child, not to bring her into the comparative wilder- 
ness in which he dwelt, until the full period had 
expired, to which he had limited her juvenile la- 
bours. The reflections of the daughter ^yere less 
melancholy, and mingled with a pleased astonish- 
ment at the novel scenery that she met at every 
turn in the road. 

The mountain on w'hich they were journeying 
was covered with pines, that rose without a branch 
seventy or eighty feet, and which frequently tow- 
ered to an additional height, that more than equal- 
led that elevation. Through the innumerable vis- 
tas that opened beneath the lofty trees the eye 


tKJB PIO:7£EIlS. 


15 


could penetrate, until it was met by a distant ine- 
quality in the ground, or was stopped by a view of 
the summit of the mountain which lay on the op- 
posite side of the valley to which they were has- 
tening. The dark trunks of the trees rose from the 
pure white of the snow, in regularly formed shafts 
until, at a great height, their branches shot forth 
their horizontal limbs, that were covered with the 
meager foliage of an evergreen, affording a melan- 
choly contrast to the torpor of nature below. To 
the travellers there seemed to be no wind ; but 
these pines waved majestically at their topmost 
boughs, sending forth a dull, sighing sound, that 
was quite in consonance with the scene. 

The sleigh had glided for some distance along 
the even surface, and the gaze of the female was 
bent in inquisitive, and, perhaps, timid glances, in- 
to the recesses of the forest, which w’ere lighted 
by the unsullied covering of the earth, when a loud 
and continued howling was heard, pealing under 
the long arches of the woods, like the cry of a nu- 
merous pack of hounds. The instant the sounds 
reached the ears of the gentleman, wdiatever might 
have been the subject of his meditations, he forgot 
it ; for he cried aloud to the black — 

‘‘ Hold up, Aggy ; there is old Hector ; I should 
know’ his bay among ten thousand. The Leather- 
stocking has put his hounds into the hills this clear 
(lay, an(i they have started their game, you hear. 
'Jliere is a deer-track a few rods ahead ; — and now, 
Bess, if thou canst muster courage enough to stand 
tire, I will give thee a saddle for thy Christmas 
dinner.’’ 

The black drew up, with a cheerful grin upon 
his chilled features, and began thrashing his arms 
together, in order to restore the circulation to his 
tir^gers, while the speaker stood erect, and, throw- 


16 


THE PIONEERS. 


ing aside his outer covering, slept from the sleigh 
upon a bank of snow, which sustained his weight 
without yielding more than an inch or two. A 
storm of sleet had fallen and frozen upon the sur- 
face a few days befpre, and but a slight snow had 
occurred since to purify, without weakening its co- 
vering. 

In a few moments the speaker succeeded in ex- 
tricating a double-barrelled fowling-piece from 
among a multitude of trunks and bandboxes. Af- 
ter throwing aside the thick mittens which had en- 
cased his hands, that now appeared in a pair of 
leather gloves tipped with fur, he examined his 
priming, and was about to move forward, when the 
light bounding noise of an animal plunging through 
the woods was heard, and directly a fine buck 
darted into the path, a short distance ahead of him. 
The appearance of the animal was sudden, and his 
flight inconceivably rapid ; but the traveller ap- 
peared to be too keen a sportsman to be discon- 
certed by either. As it came first into view he 
raised the fowling-piece to his shoulder, and, with 
a practised eye and steady hand, drew a trigger ; 
but the deer dashed forward undaunted, and ap- 
parently unhurt. Without lowering his piece, the 
traveller turned its muzzle towards his intended 
victim, and fired again. Neither discharge, how- 
ever, seemed to have taken effect. 

The whole scene had passed with a rapidity that 
confused the female, who was unconsciously rejoic- 
ing in the escape of the buck, as he rather darted 
like a meteor, than ran across the road before her, 
when a sharp, quick sound struck her ear, quite 
different from the full, round reports of her father’s 
gun, but still sufiiciently distinct to be known as 
the concussion produced by fire-arms. At the same 
instant that she heard this unexpected report, the 


THE PIONEERS. 


17 


buck sprang from the snow, to a great height in the 
air, and directly a second discharge', similar in 
sound to the first, followed, when the animal came 
to the earth, falling headlong, and rolling over on 
the crust once or twice with its own velocity. A 
loud shout was given by the unseen marksman, as 
triumphing in his better aim ; and a couple of men 
instantly appeared from behind the trunks of two 
of the pines, where they had evidently placed 
themselves in expectation of the passage of the 
deer. 

“ Ha ! Natty, had I known you were in ambush, 
I would not have fired,” cried the traveller, mov- 
ing towards the spot w’here the deer lay — near to 
which he was followed by the delighted black, 
with the sleigh ; “ but the sound of old Hector 
was too exhilarating to let me be quiet ; though 
I hardly think I struck him either.” 

“ No — no — ^Judge,” returned the hunter, with 
an inw^ard chuckle^ and with that look of exulta- 
tion, that indicates a consciousness of superior 
skill ; “ you burnt your powder, only to warm 
your nose this cold evening. Did ye think to stop 
a full grown buck, with Hector and the slut open 
upon him, within sound, with that robin pop-gun 
in your hand ? There’s plenty of pheasants among 
the swamps ; and the snow birds are flying round 
your own door, where you may feed them with 
crumbs, and shoot enough for a pot-pie, any day ; 
but if you’re for a buck, or a little bear’s meat. 
Judge, you’ll have to take the long rifle, with a 
greased wadding, or you’ll waste more powder 
than you’ll fill stomachs, I’m thinking.” 

As the speaker concluded, he drew his bare 
hand across the bottom of his nose, arid again 
opened his enormous mouth wdth a kind of inw'ard 
laugh. 


q # 


IS 


THE PIONEERS. 


“ The gun scatters 'well, Natty, and has killed a 
deer before now,” said the traveller, smiling good 
humouredly. “ One barrel was charged with buck 
shot ; but the other was loaded for birds only. 
Here are two hurts that he has received ; one 
through his neck, and the other directly through 
his heart. It is by no means certain. Natty, but 1 
gave him one of the two.” 

“ Let who will kill him,” said the hunter, rather 
surlily, “ I suppose the cretur is to be eaten.” So 
saying, he drew a large knife from a leathern sheath, 
which was stuck through his girdle or sash, and 
cut the throat of the animal. “ If there is two 
balls through the deer, I want to know if there 
wasn’t two rifles fired — besides, who ever saw such 
a ragged hole from a smooth-bore, as this is through 
the neck ? — and you will own yourself, Judge, that 
the buck fell at the last shot, which was sent from 
a truer and a younger hand, than your’n or mine 
’ither ; but for my part, although I am a poor man, 
I can live without the venison, but I don’t love to 
give up my lawful dues in a free country. Though, 
for the matter of that, might often makes right 
here, as well as in the old country, for what I can 
see.” 

An air of sullen dissatisfaction pervaded the 
manner of the hunter during the whole of this 
speech; yet he thought it prudent to utter the 
close of the sentence in such an under tone, as to 
leave nothing audible but the grumbling sounds of 
his voice. 

Nay, Natty,” rejoined the traveller, with un- 
disturbed good humour, “ it is for the honour that 
I contend. A few dollars will pay for the veni- 
son ; but what will requite me for the lost honour 
of a buck’s tail in my cap ? Think, Natty, how I 
should triumph over that quizzing dog, Dick Jones, 


THE PIOXEERS. 


19 


who has failed seven times this season already, and 
has only brought in one wood-chuck and a few 
gray squirrels.” 

Ah ! the game is becoming hard to find, in- 
deed, JudgO, with your clearings and betterments,” 
said the old hunter, with a kind of disdainful re- 
signation. “ The time has been, when I have shot 
thirteen deer, without counting the fa’ns, standing 
in the door of my own hut ! — and for bear’s meat, 
if one wanted a ham or so from the cretur, he had 
only to watch a-nights, and he could shoot one by 
moonlight, through the cracks of the logs; no fear 
of his over-sleeping himself, n’ither, for the howl- 
ing of the wolves was sartin to keep his eyes open. 
There’s old Hector,” — patting with affection a tall 
hound, of black and yellow spots, with white bel- 
ly and legs, that just then came in on the scent, ac- 
companied by the slut he had mentioned ; “ see 
where the wolves bit his throat, the night I druve 
them from the venison I was smoking on the chim- 
bly top — that dog is more to be trusted nor many 
a Christian man ; for he never forgets a friend, and 
loves the hand that gives him bread.” 

There was a peculiarity in the manner of the 
hunter, that struck the notice of the young female, 
who had been a close and interested observer of 
his appearance and equipments, from the moment 
he first came into view. He was tall, and so mea- 
gre as to make him seem above even the six feet 
that he actually stood in his stockings. On bis 
head, which was thinly covered with lank, sandy 
hair, he wore a cap made of fox-skin, resembling 
in shape the one we have already described, al- 
though mucHi inferior in finish and ornaments. His 
face was skinny, and thin almost to emaciation ; 
but yet bore no signs of disease ; — on the contrary, 
it had every indication of the most robust and en- 


20 


THE PIOJfEERS. 

during health. The cold and the exposure had, 
together, given it a colour of uniform red ; his gray 
eyes were glancing under a pair of shaggy brows, 
that overhung them in long hairs of gray mingled 
with their natural hue ; his scraggy neck was bare, 
and burnt to the same tint wdth his fac« ; though 
a small part of a shirt collar, made of the country 
check, was to be seen above the over-dress he 
wore. A kind of coat, made of dressed deer-skin, 
with the hair on, was belted close to his lank body, 
by a girdle of coloured worsted. On his feet were 
deer-skin moccasins, ornamented with porcupines’ 
quills, after the manner of the Indians, and his limbs 
were guarded with long leggings of the same ma- 
terial as the moccasins, which, gartering over the 
knees of his tarnished buck-skin breeches, had ob- 
tained for him, among the settlers, the nick-name 
of Leather-stocking, notwithstanding his legs were 
protected beneath, in winter, by thick garments of 
woollen, duly made of good blue yarn. Over his 
left shoulder ivas slung a belt of deer- skin, from 
which depended an enormous ox horn, so thinly 
scraped, as to discover the dark powder that it con- 
tained. The larger end was fitted ingeniously and 
securely with a wooden bottom, and the other was 
stopped tight by a little plug. A leathern pouch 
hung before him, from which, as he concluded his 
last speech, he took a small measure, and, filling it 
accurately with powder, he commenced reloading 
the rifle, which, as its butt rested on the snow be- 
fore him, reached yearly to the top of his fox-skin 
cap. 

The traveller had been closely examining the 
wounds during these movements, and now, with- 
out heeding the ill-humour of the hunter’s man- 
ner, exclaimed — 

‘‘ I would fain establish a right, Natty, to the 


THE PIONEERS. 


21 


fionour of this capture ; and surely if the hit in the 
neck be mine, it is enough ; for the shot in the 
heart was unnecessary — what we call an act of su- 
pererogation, Leather-stocking.” 

“ You may call it by what lamed name you 
please, Judge,” said the hunter, throwing his rifle 
across his left arm, and knocking up a brass lid 
in the breech, from which he took a small piece of 
greased leather, and wrapping a ball in it, forced 
them down by main strength on the powder, where 
he continued to pounJ them while speaking. “It’s 
far easier to call names, than to shoot a buck on 
the spring ; but tbe cretur come by his end from 
a younger hand than ’ither your’n or mine, as I 
said before.” 

“ What say you, my friend,” cried the traveller, 
turning pleasantly to Natty’s companion; “ shall 
we toss up this dollar for the honour, and you keep 
the silver if you lose ; what say you, friend ?” 

“ That I killed the deer,” answered the 3"oung 
man, with a little haughtiness, as he leaned on 
another long rifle, similar to that of Natty’s. 

“ Here are two to one, indeed,” replied the 
Judge, with a smile ; “ I am outvoted — overruled, 
as we say on the bench. There is Aggy, he can’t 
vote, being a slave ; and Bess is a minor — so I 
must even make the best of it. But you’ll sell 
me the venison ; and the deuce is in it, but I make 
a good story about its death.” 

“ The meat is none of mine to sell,” said Lea- 
ther-stocking, adopting a little of his companion’s 
hauteur ; “ for my part, I have known animals 
travel days with shots in the neck, and I’m none 
of them who’ll rob a man of his rightful dues.” 

You are tenacious of your rights, this cold eve- 
ning, Natty,” returned the Judge, with unconquer 


22 


THE PIOXEERS. 


able good nature ; “ but what say you, young 
man, will three dollars pay you for the buck ?” 

“ First let us determine the question of right to 
the satisfaction of us both,” said the youth, firmly 
but respectfully, and with a pronunciation and lan- 
guage vastly superior to his appearance ; “ v/itli 
how many shot did you load your gun 

‘‘ With five, sir,” said the Judge, gravely, a lit- 
tle struck with the otheFs manner ; “■ are they not 
enough to slay a buck like this ?” 

‘‘ One would do it ; but,” moving to the tree 
from behind which he had appeared, “you know, 
sir, you fired in this direction — here are four of 
the bullets in the tree.” 

The Judge examined the fresh marks in the 
rough bark of the pine, and shaking his head, said 
with a laugh — 

“ You are making out the case' against yourself, 
my young advocate — where is the fifth ?” 

“ Here,” said the youth, throwing aside the rough 
over-coat that he wore, and exhibiting a hole in 
his under garment, through which large drops of 
blood were oozing. 

“ Good God !” exclaimed the Judge, with hor- 
ror ; “ have I been trifling here about an empty 
distinction, and a fellow-creature suffering from my 
hands without a murmur ? But hasten — quick — 
get into my sleigh — it is but a mile to the village, 
where surgical aid can be obtained ; — all shall be 
done at my expense, and thou shalt live with me 
until thy wound is healed — ay, and for ever after- 
wards, too.” 

“ I thank you, sir, for your good intention, but 
must decline your offer. I have a friend who 
would be uneasy were he (o hear that I am hurt 
and away from him. The injury is but slight, and 


THE PIONEERS. 


23 


the outlet has missed the bones ; but I believe, sir, 
you will now^ admit my title to the venison.” 

“ Admit it !” repeated the agitated Judge ; “ I 
here give thee a right to shoot deer, or bears, or 
any thing thou pleasest in my woods, for ever. 
Leather-stocking is the only other man that I have 
granted the same privilege to ; and the time is 
coming w^hen it will be of value. But I buy your 
deer — here, this bill will pay thee, both for thy 
shot and my own.” 

The old hunter gathered his tall person up into 
an air of pride, during this dialogue, and now mut- 
tered in an under tone — 

‘‘ There’s them living who say, that Nathaniel 
Bumppo’s right to shoot in these hills, is of older 
date than Marmaduke Temple’s right to forbid him. 
But if there’s a law about it at all, though who. 
ever heard tell of a law that a ma» should’nt kill 
deer where he pleased ! — but if there is a law at 
all, it should be to keep people from the use of 
them smooth-bores. A body never knows where 
his lead wdll fly, when he pulls the trigger of one 
of them fancified fire-arms.” 

Without attending to the soliloquy of Natty, the 
youth bowed his head silently to the offbr of the 
bank note, and replied — 

“ Excuse me, sir, I have need of the venison.” 

‘•But this will buy you many deer,” said the 
Judge ; “ take it, I entreat you,” and lowering his 
voice to nearly a whisper, he added — “ it is for a 
hundred dollars.” 

For an instant only, the youth seemed to hesi- 
tate, and then, blushing even through the high co- 
lour that the cold had given to his cheeks, as if 
with inward shame at his own weakness, he again 
proudly declined the offer. 

During this scene the female arose, and, regard- 


24 


THE PIONEERS. 


less of the cold air, she threw back the hood which 
concealed her features, and now spoke, with great 
earnestness — 

“ Surely, surely, — young man — sir — you would 
not pain my father so much, as to have him think 
that he leaves a fellow-creature in this wilderness, 
whom his own hand has injured. I entreat you 
will go with us and receive medical aid for your 
hurts.” 

Whether his wound became more painful, or, 
there was something irresistible in the voice and 
manner of the fair pleader for her father’s feelings, 
we know not, but the haughty distance of the 
young man’s manner was sensibly softened by this 
appeal, and he stood, in apparent doubt, as if re- 
luctant to comply wdth, and yet unwilling to refuse 
her request. The Judge, for such being his office, 
must in future be his title, watched, with no little 
interest, the display of this singular contention in 
the feelings of the youth, and advancing, kindly 
took his hand, and, as he pulled him gently to- 
wards the sleigh, urged him to enter it. 

‘‘ There is no human aid nearer than Temple- 
ton,” he said ; ‘‘ and the hut of Natty is full three 
miles from this ; — come — come, my young friend, 
go with us, and let the new doctor look to this 
shoulder of thine. Here is Natty will take the 
tidings of thy welfare to thy friend ; and should’st 
thou require it, thou shalt be returned to thy home 
in the morning.” 

The young man succeeded in extricating his hand 
from the warm grasp of the judge, but continued to 
gaze on the face of the female, who, regardless of 
the cold, was still standing with her fine features 
exposed, which expressed feelings that eloquently 
seconded the request of her frther. Leather- 
stocking stood, in the mean time, leaning upon his 


THE PIONEERS. 


25 


long rifle, with his head turned a little to one side, 
as if engaged in deep and sagacious musing ; when, 
having apparently satisfied his doubts, by revolving 
the subject in his mind, he broke silence— 

“ It may be best to go, lad, after all ; for if the 
shot hangs under the skin, my hand is getting too 
old to be cutting into human flesh, as I once used 
to. Though some thirty years agone, in the old 
war, when I was out under Sir William, I travel- 
led seventy miles alone in the howling wilder- 
ness, with a rifle bullet in my thigh, and then cut 
it out with my own jack-knife. Old Indian John 
knows the time well. I met him with a party of 
the Delawares, on the trail of the Iroquois, who 
had been down and taken five scalps on the Scho- 
harie. But I made a mark on the red-skin that I’ll 
warrant he carried to his grave. I took him on his 
posteerum, saving the lady’s presence, as he got 
up from the amboosh, and rattled three buck shot 
into his naked hide, so close, that you might have 
laid a broad joe upon them all — ” here Natty 
stretched out his long neck, and straightened his 
body, as he opened his mouth, which exposed a 
single tusk of yellow hone, while his eyes, his face, 
even his whole frame, seemed to laugh, although 
no sound was emitted, except a kind of thick hiss- 
ing, as he inhaled his breath in quavers. “ I had 
lost my bullet mould in crossing the Oneida outlet, 
and so had to make shift with the buck shot ; but 
the rifle was true, and did’nt scatter like your two- 
legged thing there. Judge, which don’t do, I find, 
to hunt in company with.” 

Natty’s apology to the delicacy of the young lady 
was unnecessary, for, while he was speaking, she 
was too much employed in helping her father to 
remove certain articles of their baggage to hear 
him. Unable to resist the kind urgency of the 
VOL. I. 3 


THE PIONEERS. 


travellers any longer, the youth, though still with 
an unaccountable reluctance expressed in his man- 
ner, suffered himself to be persuaded to enter the 
sleigh. The black, with the aid of his master, 
threw the buck across the baggage, and entering 
the vehicle themselves, the judge invited the hunter 
to do so likewise. 

“ No — no — ” said the old man, shaking his 
head ; I have work to do at home this Christmas 
eve— drive on with the boy, and let your doctor 
look to the shoulder ; though if he will only cut 
out the shot, I have yarbs that will heal the wound 
quicker nor all his foreign ’intments.” He turned 
and was about to move off, when, suddenly recol- 
lecting himself, he again faced the party, and added 
— “ If you see any thing of Indian John about the 
foot of the lake, you had better take him with you, 
and let him lend the doctor a hand ; for old as he 
is, he is curious at cuts and bruises, and it’s like- 
lier than not he’ll be in with brooms to sweep your 
Christmas ha’arths.” 

“ Stop — stop,” cried the youth, catching the 
arm of the black as he prepared to urge his horses 
forward ; “ Natty — you need say nothing of the 
shot, nor of where I am going — remember, Natty, 
as you love me.” 

“ Trust old Leather-stocking,” returned the 
hunter, significantly ; “ he has’nt lived forty years 
in the wilderness, and not larnt from the savages 
how to hold his tongue — trust to me, lad ; and re- 
member old Indian John.” 

“ And, Natty,” said the youth eagerly, still 
holding the black by the arm, “ I will just get the 
shot extracted, and bring you up, to-night, a quar- 
ter of the buck, for the Christmas dinner.” 

He was interrupted by the hunter, who held up 
his finger with an expressive gesture for silence, 


THE FIOXELES. 


and moved softly along the margin of the road, 
keeping his eyes steadfastly fixed on the branches 
of a pine near him. When he had obtained such 
a position as he wished, he stopped, and cocking 
his rifle, threw one leg far behind him, and stretch- 
ing his left arm to its utmost extent along the bar- 
rel of his piece, he began slowly to raise its muz- 
zle in a line with the straight trunk of the tree. 
The eyes of the group in the sleigh naturally pre- 
ceded the movement of the rifle, and they soon 
discovered the object of Natty’s aim. On a small 
dead branch of the pine, which, at the distance of 
seventy feel from the ground, shot out horizontal- 
ly, immediately beneath the living members of the 
tree, sal a bird, that in the vulgar language of the 
country was indiscriminately called a pheasant 
or a partridge. In size, it was but little smaller 
than a common barn-yard fowl. The baying of 
the dogs, and the conversation that had passed 
near the root of the tree on which it was perched, 
liad alarmed the bird, which was now drawn up 
near the body of the pine, with a head and neck 
erect, that formed nearly a straight line with its 
legs. So soon as the rifle bore on the victim. 
Natty drew his trigger, and the partridge fell from 
its height with a force that buried it in the snow. 

. “ Lie down, you old villain,” exclaimed Lea- 
ther-stocking, shaking his ramrod at Hector as he 
bounded towards the foot of the tree, “ lie down, 
I say.” The dog obeyed, and Natty proceeded, 
with great rapidity, though with the nicest accu- 
racy, to reload his piece. When this was ended, 
he took up his ^ame, and showing it to the party 
without a head, he cried — “ Here is a nice tit-bit 
for an old man’s Christmas — never mind the veni- 
son, boy, and remember Indian John ; his yarbs 
arc better nor all the foreign ’intments. Here, 


28 


THE PIONEERS. 


Judge,” holding up the bird again, “ do you think 
a smooth-bore would pick game off their roost, and 
not ruffle a feather ?” The old man gave another 
of his remarkable laughs, which partook so largely 
of exultation, mirth, and irony, and shaking his 
head, he turned, with his rifle at a trail, and 
moved into the forest with short and quick steps, 
that were between a walk and a trot. At each 
movement that he made his body lowered several 
inches, his knees yielding with an inclination in- 
ward ; but as the sleigh turned at a bend in the 
road, the youth cast his eyes in quest of his old 
companion, and he saw that he was already nearly 
concealed by the trunks of the trees, while his dogs 
were following quietly in his footsteps, occasionally 
scenting the deer track, that they seemed to know 
instinctively was now of no further use to them 
Another jerk was given to the sleigh, and \ 
stocking was hidden from view. 


CHAPTER II. 


All places that th« eye of Hearen visits, 

Are to a wise man ports and happy havens 
TJiink not the king did banish thre : 

But thou the king. — 

Richard II. 

An ancestor of Marmaduke Temple had, about 
one hundred and twenty years before the commence- 
ment of our tale, come to the colony of Pennsyl- 
vania, a friend and co-religionist of its great patron. 
Old Marmaduke, for this formidable prenomen was 
a kind of appellative to the race, brought with him, 
to that asylum of the persecuted, an abundance of 
the good things of this life. He became the mas- 
ter of many thousands of acres of uninhabited ter- 
ritory, and the supporter of many a score of de- 
pendants. He lived greatly respected for his piety, 
and not a little distinguished as a sectary : was in- 
trusted by his associates with many important po- 
litical stations; and died just in time to escape the 
knowledge of his own poverty. It was his lot to 
share the fortune of most of those who brought 
wealth with them into the new settlements of the 
middle colonies. 

The consequence of an emigrant into these pro- 
vinces was generally to be ascertained by the num- 
ber of his white servants or dependants, and the 
nature of the public situations that he held. Tak- 
ing this rule as a guide, the ancestor of our Judge 
must have been a man of no little note. 

3 ^ 


30 


THE PIONEERS. 


It is, however, a subject of curious inquiry at the 
present day, to look into the brief records of that 
early period, and observe how regular, and with 
few exceptions how inevitable, were the gradations, 
on the one hand, of the masters to poverty, and 
on the other, of their servants to wealth. Accus- 
tomed to ease, and unequal to the struggles inci- 
dent to an infant society, the affluent emigrant was 
barely enabled to maintain his own rank, by the 
weight of his personal superiority and acquire- 
ments ; but the moment that his head was laid in 
the grave, his indolent, and comparatively unedu- 
cated offspring, were compelled to yield prece- 
dency to the more active energies of a class, whose 
exertions had been stimulated by necessity. This 
is a very common course of things, even in the 
present state of the Union ; but it was peculiarly 
the fortunes of the two extremes of society, in the 
peaceful and unenterprising colonies of Pennsyl 
vania and New-Jersey. 

The posterity of Marmaduke did not escape the 
common lot of those, who depended rather on their 
Hereditary possessions than on their own powers ; 
and in the third generation, they had descended to 
a point, below which, in this happy country, it is 
barely possible for honesty, intellect, and sobriety, 
to fall. The same pride of family that had, by its 
self-satisfied indolence, conduced to aid their fall, 
now became a principle to stimulate them to en- 
deavour to rise again. The feeling, from being 
morbid, was changed to a healthful and active de- 
sire to emulate the character, the condition, and 
peradventure, the wealth, of their ancestors also. 
It was the father of our new acquaintance, the 
Judge, who first began to re-ascend the scale of 
society : and in this undertaking he was not a little 
assisted by a marriage that he formed, which aided 


THE PIONEERS. 


31 


greatly in furnishing the means of educating his 
only son, in a rather better manner than the low 
state of the common schools in Pennsylvania could 
promise ; or than had been the practice in the 
family, for the two or three preceding generations. 

At the school where the reviving prosperity of 
his father was enabled to maintain him, young 
Marmaduke formed an intimacy with a youth, 
whose years were about equal to his own. This 
was a fortunate connexion for our judge, and 
paved the way to most of his future elevation in 
life, when the early inclination for each other in 
the boys was matured into friendship. 

There was not only great wealth, but high court 
interest, among the connexions of Edward Effing- 
ham. They were one of the very few families, 
then resident in the colonies, who thought it a de- 
gradation to its members to descend to the pursuits 
of commerce : and who never emerged from the 
privacy of their domestic life, unless to preside in 
the councils of the colony, or to bear arms in her de- 
fence. The latter had, from youth to approaching 
age, been the only employment of Edward’s father. 
Military rank, under the crown of Great Britain, 
was, sixty years ago, attained with much longer 
probation, and by much more toilsome services, 
than at the present time. Years were passed 
without murmuring, in the subordinate grades of the 
service ; and those soldiers who were stationed in 
the colonies, felt, when they obtained the command 
of a company, that they were entitled to receive 
the greatest deference from the peaceful occupants 
of the soil. Any one of our readers, who in a 
visit to the falls, has occasion to cross the Niagara, 
by spending a day at Newark, may easily observe, 
not only the self-importance, but the real estima- 
tion enjoyed by the humblest representative of the 


TllE PIOKEEKS. 


crown, even in that polar legion of royal sunshine. 
Such, and at no very distant period, was the re- 
spect paid to the military in these States, where 
now, happily, no symbol of war is ever seen, un- 
less at the free and fearless voice of their peo- 
ple. When, therefore, the father of Marmaduke’s 
friend, after forty years’ service, retired with the 
rank of Major, maintaining in his domestic establish- 
ment a comparative splendour, it is not be doubted 
but that he became a man of the first consideration 
in his native colony — w'hich was that of New- 
York. He had served with fidelity and courage, 
and having been, according to the -custom of the 
provinces, intrusted with commands much superior 
to those to which he was entitled by rank, with 
reputation also. When Major Effingham yielded 
to the claims of age, he retired with dignity, re- 
fusing his half-pay or any other compensation for 
services, that he felt he could no longer perform. 

The ministry proffered to his acceptance various 
civil offices, which yielded not only honour but pro- 
fit ; but he declined them all, with the chivalrous 
independence and loyalty that had marked his 
character through life. The veteran soon caused 
this, act of patriotic -disinterestedness to be follow- 
ed by another of private munificence, that, how- 
ever little it accorded with prudence, was in per- 
fect conformity with the simple integrity of his 
own views. 

The friend of Marmaduke was his only child ; 
and to this son, on his marriage with a lady to 
whom the father was particularly partial, the Ma- 
jor gave a complete conveyance of his whole 
estate, consisting of moneys in the funds, a town 
and country residence, sundry valuable farms in 
the old parts of the colony, and large tracts of 
■wild land in the new — ;in this manner thro^ving 


THE PIONEERS. 


33 


himself upon the filial piety of his child for his 
own future maintenance. Major Effingham, in 
declining the liberal offers of the British ministry, 
had subjected himself to the suspicion of having 
attained his dotage, by all those who throng the 
avenues to court patronage, even in the remotest 
corners of that vast empire ; but, when he thus 
voluntarily stript himself of his great personal 
wealth, the remainder of the community seemed 
instinctively to adopt the conclusion also, that 
he had reached a second childhood. This may 
explain the fact of his importance rapidly declin- 
ing ; and, if privacy was his object, the veteran 
had soon a free indulgence of his wishes. What- 
ever views the world might entertain of this act 
of the Major, to himself and to his child, it seem- 
ed no more than a natural gift by a father, of those 
immunities which he could no longer enjoy or im- 
prove, to a son, who was formed, both by nature 
and education, to do both. The younger Effing- 
ham did not object to the amount of the donation ; 
for he felt that while his parent reserved a moral 
control over his actions, he was relieving himself 
from a fatiguing burthen : such, indeed, was the 
confidence existing between them, that to neither 
did it seem any thing more, than removing money 
from one pocket to another. 

One of the first acts of the young man, on com- 
ing into possession of his wealth, was to seek his 
early friend, with a view to offer any assistance, 
that it was now in his power to bestow. 

The death of Marmaduke’s father, and the con- 
sequent division of his small estate, rendered such 
an offer extremely acceptable to the young Penn- 
sylvanian : he felt his own powers, and saw, not 
only the excellences, but the foibles, in the cha- 
racter of his friend. Effingham was by nature in- 


34 


THE PIONEERS. 


dolent, confiding, and at times impetuous and 
indiscreet ; but Marmaduke was uniformly equable, 
penetrating, and full of activity and enterprise. 
To the latter, therefore, the assistance, or rather 
connexion, that was proffered to him, seemed to 
promise a mutual advantage. It was cheerfully 
accepted, and the arrangement of its conditions 
left entirely to the dictates of his own judgment. 
A mercantile house was established in the metro- 
polis of Pennsylvania, with the avails of Mr. Ef- 
fingham’s personal property ; all, or nearly all, of 
which was put into the possession of Temple, who 
was the only ostensible proprietor in the concern, 
while, in secret, the other was entitled to an equal 
participation in the profits. This connexion was 
thus kept private for two reasons ; one of which, 
in the freedom of their intercourse, w^as frankly 
avowed to Marmaduke, while the other continued 
profoundly hid in the bosom of his friend. The last 
was nothing more than pride. To the descendant of 
a line of soldiers, commerce, even in that indirect 
manner, seemed a degrading pursuit ; and every 
sentiment of young Effingham was opposed to 
the acknowledgment of an arrangement, which 
he only reconciled to his private feelings, by a 
knowledge of his own motives — but an insupe- 
rable obstacle to the disclosure existed in the pre- 
judices of his father. 

We have already said that Major Effingham had 
served as a soldier with reputation. On one occa- 
sion, while in command on the w^estern frontier of 
Pennsylvania, against a league of the French and 
Indians, not only his glory, but the safety of him- 
self and his troops were jeoparded, by the peace- 
ful policy of that colony. To the soldier, this was 
an unpardonable offence. He was fighting in 
their defence only — he knew that the mild prin- 


THE PIONEEKS. 


35 


ciplcs of this little nation of practical Christians 
would be disregarded by their subtle and malig- 
nant enemies ; and he felt the injury the more 
deeply, because he saw that the avowed object of 
the colonists, in withholding thefr succours, would 
only have a tendency to expose his command, 
without preserving the peace. The gallant soldier 
succeeded, after a desperate conflict, in extricating 
himself with a handful of his men, from their 
murderous enemy : but he never forgave the peo- 
ple who had exposed him to a danger, which they 
left him to combat alone. It was in vain to tell 
him, that they had no agency in his being placed on 
their frontier at all ; it was evidently for their 
benefit that he had been so placed, and it was their 
“ religious duty,” so the Major always expressed 
it ; “ it was their religious duty to have supported 
him.” 

At no time was the old soldier an admirer of 
the peaceful disciples of Fox. Their disciplined 
habits, both of mind and body, had endowed them 
with great physical perfection ; and the eye of the 
veteran was apt to scan the fair proportions and 
athletic frames of the colonists, with a look that 
seemed to utter volumes of contempt for their 
moral imbecility. He was also a little addicted to 
the expression of a belief, that, where there was 
so great an observance of the externals of reli- 
gion, there could not be much of the substance. — 
It is not our task to explain what is, or ought to be, 
the substance of Christianity, but merely to record 
in this place the opinions of Major Effingham. 

Knowing the sentiments of the father, in rela- 
tion to this people, it was no wonder that the son 
hesitated to avow his connexion with, nay, even 
his dependence on the integrity of, a quaker. 

It has been seen that Marmaduke deduced his 


36 


THE PIOXEERS. 


origin from the contemporaries and friends of 
Penn. His father had married without the pale 
of the church to which he belonged, and had, in 
this manner, forfeited some of the privileges of 
his offspring. Still, as young Marmaduke was 
educated in a colony and society, where even the 
ordinary intercourse between friends was tinc- 
tured with the aspect of this mild religion, his 
habits and language were somewhat marked by its 
peculiarities. His own marriage at a future day 
with a lady without, not only the pale, but the 
influence of this sect of religionists, had a tenden- 
cy, it is true, to weaken his early impressions ; 
still he retained them, in some degree, to the hour 
of his death, and was observed uniformly, when 
much interested or agitated, to speak in the lan- 
guage of his youth — But this is anticipating our 
tale. 

When Marmaduke first became the partner of 
young Effingham, he was quite the quaker in ex- 
ternals; and it was too dangerous an experiment 
for the son to think of encountering the preju- 
dices of the father on this subject. The connex- 
ion, therefore, remained a profound secret to all 
but those who were interested in it. 

For a few years, Marmaduke directed the com- 
mercial operations of his house with a prudence 
and sagacity, that affiorded rich returns for the 
labour and hazard incurred. He married the lady 
we have mentioned, who was the mother of Eliza- 
beth, and the visits of his friend were becoming 
more frequent ; and there was a speedy prospect 
of removing the veil from their intercourse, as its 
advantages became each hour more apparent to 
Mr. Effingham, when the troubles that preceded 
the war of the revolution extended themselves to 
an alarming degree. 


THE PIONEERS. 


37 


Educated in the most dependent loyalty by his fa- 
ther, Mr. Effingham had, from the commencement 
of the disputes between the colonists and the 
crown, warmly maintained, what he believed to 
be, the just prefogatives of his prince ; while on 
the other hand, the clear head and independent 
mind of Temple had induced him to espouse the 
cause of the people. Both might have been 
influenced by early impressions ; for, if the son of 
the loyal and gallant soldier bowed in implicit 
obedience to the will of his sovereign, the de- 
scendant of the persecuted follower of Penn 
looked back, with a little bitterness, to the un- 
merited wrongs that had been heaped upon his 
ancestors. 

This difference in opinion had long been a sub- 
ject of amicable dispute between them, but, latter- 
ly, the contest was getting to be too important to 
admit of trivial discussions on the part of Marma- 
duke, whose acute discernment was already catch-' 
ing faint glimmerings of the important events that 
were in embryo. The sparks of dissension soon 
kindled into a blaze ; and the colonies, or rather, 
as they quickly declared themselves, the stateSj, 
became a scene of strife and bloodshed for years. 

A short time before the battle of Lexington, 
Mr. Effingham, already a widower, transmitted to 
Marmaduke, for safe-keeping, all his valuable 
effects and papers ; and left the colony without his 
father. The war had, however, scarcely com- 
menced in earnest, when he re-appeared in New- 
York, wearing the livery of his king, and in a 
short time he took the field at the head of a pro- 
vincial corps. In the mean time, Marmaduke had 
completely committed himself in the cause, as it 
was then called, of the rebellion : of course, all 
intercourse between the friends ceased — on the 
4 


VOL. I. 


THE PIONEERS. 


3B 

part of Col. Effingham it was unsought, and on 
that of Marmaduke there was a cautious reserve. 
It soon became necessary for the latter to abandon 
the capital of Philadelphia; but he had taken the 
precaution to remove to the interior the whole of 
his effects, beyond the reach of the royal forces, 
including the papers of his friend also. There he 
fcontinued serving his country during the struggle, 
in various civil capacities, and always with dignity 
and usefulness. While, however, he discharged 
his functions with credit and fidelity, Marmaduke 
never seemed to lose sight of his own interests ; 
for, when the estates of the adherents of the 
crown fell under the hammer, by the acts of con- 
fiscation, he appealed in New-York, and became 
the purchaser of extensive possessions at, compa- 
ratively, very low prices. 

It is true that Marmaduke, by thus purchasing 
estates that had been wrested by violence from 
others, rendered himself obnoxious to the cen- 
sures of that sect, which, at the same time that it 
discards its children from a full participation in the 
family union, seems ever unwilling to abandon 
them entirely to the world. But either his suc- 
cess, or the frequency of tlie transgression in 
others, soon wiped off this slight stain from his 
character : and although there were a few, who, 
dissatisfied with their own fortunes, or conscious 
of their own demerits, would make dark hints 
concerning the sudden prosperity of the unpor- 
tioned quaker, yet his services, and possibly his 
v/ealth, soon drove the recollection of these vague 
conjectures from men’s minds. 

When the war was ended, and the indepen- 
dence of the states acknowledged, Mr. Temple 
turned his attention from the pursuit of commerce, 
wffiich was then fluctuating and uncertain, to the 


THE PIOJ^EERS. 


39 


settlement of those tracts of land which he had 
purchased. Aided by a good deal of money, and 
directed by the suggestions of a strong and practi- 
cal reason, his enterprises throve to a degree, that 
the climate and rugged face of the country which 
he selected would seem to forbid. His property 
increased in a tenfold ratio, and he was already to 
be ranked among the most wealthy and important 
of his countrymen. To inherit this wealth he 
had but one child — the daughter wliom we have 
introduced to the reader, and whom he was now * 
conveying from school, to preside over a house- 
hold that had too long wanted a mistiess. 

When the district in which his estates lay, had 
become sufficiently populous to be set off as a 
county, Mr. Temple had, according to the custom 
of the new settlements, been selected to fill its 
highest judicial station. This might make a Tem- 
plar smile, but in addition to the apology of neces- 
sity, there is ever a dignity in talents and expe- 
rience, that is commonly sufficient, in any station, 
for the protection of its possessor ; and Marma- 
duke, more fortunate in his native clearness of 
mind than the judge of King Charles,, not only 
decided right, but was generally abl^ to give a 
very good reason for it. At all events, such w'as 
the universal practice of the country and the 
times ; and Judge Temple, so far from ranking 
among the lowest of his judicial contemporaries in 
the courts of the new counties, felt himself, and 
w'as unanimously acknowdedged to be, among the 
first. 

We shall here close this brief explanation of the 
history and character of some of our personages, 
leaving them in future to speak and act for them- 
selves. 


CHAPTER III 


All that thou seo’st, is nature’s handy-work , 

Those rocks that upward throw their mossy brows, 

Like castled pinnacles of the elder times ! 

These venerable stems, that slowly rock 
Their tow’ring branches in the wintry gale! 

That field of frost, which glitters in the sun, 

Mocking the whiteness of a marble breast ! — 

Yet man can mar such works with his rude taste. 

Like some sad spoiler of a virgin’s fame. 

Duo. 

Some little while elapsed, after the horses had 
resumed their journey, ere Marmaduke Temple 
was sufficiently recovered, from his agitation to 
scan the person of his new companion. He now 
observed, -tliat he was a youth of some two or 
three and twenty years of age ; and rather above 
the middle height. Further observation was pre- 
vented by the rough overcoat which was belted 
close to his form by a worsted sash, much like the 
one worn by the old hunter. The eyes of the 
Judge, after resting a moment on the figure of the 
stranger, were raised to a scrutin}'^ of his coun- 
tenance. There had been a contraction of the 
brows, and a look of care, visible in the features 
of the youth, when he first entered the sleigh, 
that had not only attracted the notice of Elizabeth, 
but which she had been much puzzled to interpret. 


THE PIONEERS. 


41 


The passion seemed the strongest when he was 
enjoining his old companion to secrecy ; and when 
he had decided, and was, rather passively, suffer- 
ing himself to be conveyed to the village, the ex- 
pression of the young man’s eyes by no means 
indicated any great degree of self-satisfaction at 
the step. But the lines of an uncommonly pre- 
possessing countenance were gradually becoming 
composed ; and he now sat in silent, and apparent- 
ly abstracted musing. The Judge gazed at him 
for some time with earnestness, and then smiling 
as if at his own forgetfulness, he spoke — 

“ I believe, ray young friend, that terror has 
driven your name from ray recollection — your face 
is very familiar to me, and yet for the honour of a 
score of buck’s-tails in my cap, I could not tell 
your name.” 

“ I came into the country but three weeks 
since, sir,” returned the youth coldly, “ and I un- 
derstand you have been absent more than that 
time.” 

“ It will be five to-morrow. Yet your face is 
one that 1 have seen ; though it would not be 
strange, such has been my affright, should I see 
thee in thy winding-sheet walking by my bed- 
side, to-night. What say’st thou, Bess? Am I 
compos mentis or not.^ — Fit to charge a grand 
jury, or, what is just now of more pressing neces- 
sity, able to do the honours of a Christmas-eve in 
the hall of Templeton ?” 

“ More able to do either, my dear father,” said 
a playful voice from under the ample enclosures 
of the hood, ‘‘ than to kill deer with a smooth- 
bore.” A short pause followed ; and the same 
voice, but in a different accent, continued— “ We 
shall have good reasons for our thanksgiving to- 
night, on more accounts than one.” 

4 * 


42 


THE PIONEERS. 


A slightly scornful smile passed over the fea- 
tures of the youth, at the archness of the first 
part of this speech ; but it instantly vanished, as 
he listened to the tremulous tones in which it 
was concluded. The Judge, also, seemed to he 
affected with the consciousness of how narrowly 
he had escaped taking the life of a fellow-creature, 
and, for some time, there was a dead silence in the 
sleigh. 

The horses soon reached a point, where they 
seemed to know by instinct that their journey was 
nearly ended, and, bearing on the bits, as they 
tossed their heads, uneasily, up and down, they 
rapidly drew the sleigh over the level land, which 
lay on the top of the mountain, and soon came to 
the point where the road descended suddenly, but 
circuitously, into the valley. 

The Judge was roused from his reflections, 
when he saw the four columns of dense smoke, 
which floated along the air from his own chimneys. 
As house, village, and valley burst on his sight, he 
exclaimed cheerfully to his daughter — 

“ See, Bess, there is thy resting-place for life ! 
And thine too, young man, if thou wilt consent to 
dwell with us.” 

The eyes of the youth and maiden involuntarily 
met, as the Judge, in the warmth of his feelings, 
thus included them in an association which was to 
endure so long ; and if the deepening colour, that, 
notwithstanding her hood, might be seen gather- 
ing over the face even to the forehead of Eliza- 
beth, was contradicted in its language by the 
proud expression of her eye, the scornful but 
covert smile that again played about the lips of 
the stranger, seemed equally to deny the prob- 
ability of his consenting to form one of this 
family group. The scene was one, howevei-, 


Tils PIONEERS. 


43 


Avhieh might easily warm a heart less given to phil- 
anthropy than that of Marmaduke Temple. 

, The side of the mountain, on which our travel- 
lers were journeying, though not absolutely per- 
pendicular, was yet so steep as to render great care 
necessary in descending the rude and nan*ow path, 
which, in that early day, wound along the preci- 
pices. The negro reined in his impatient steeds, 
and time was given to Elizabeth to dwell on a 
scene which was so rapidly altering under the 
hands of man, that it only resembled, in its out- 
lines, the picture she had so often studied, with de- 
light, in her childhood. On the right, and stretch- 
ing for several miles to the north, lay a narrow 
plain, buried among mountains, which, falling oc- 
casionally, jutted in long low points, that were co- 
vered with tall trees, into the valley ; and then 
again, for miles, stretched their lofty brows per- 
pendicularly along its margin, nourishing in the 
crags that formed their sides, pines and hemlocks 
thinly interspersed with chesnut and beech, which 
grew in lines nearly parallel to the mountains 
themselves. The dark foliage of the evergreens 
was brilliantly contrasted by the glittering white- 
ness of the plain, which exhibited, over the tops 
of the trees, and through the vistas formed by the 
advancing points of the hills, a single sheet of un- 
spotted snow, relieved occasionally by a few small 
dark objects that were discovered, as they were 
passing directly beneath the feet of the travellers, 
to be sleighs moving in various directions. On 
the western border of the plain, the mountains, 
though equally high, were less precipitous, and as 
they receded, opened into irregular valleys and 
glens, and were formed into terraces, and hollows 
that admitted of cultivation. Although the ever- 
greens still held dominion over many of the hills 


44 


THE PIOKEERS. 


that rose on this side of the valley, yet the undu- 
lating outlines of the distant mountains, covered 
with forests of beech and maple, gave a relief to 
the eye, and the promise of a kinder soil. Occa- 
sionally, spots of white were discoverable amidst 
the forests of the opposite hills, that announced, by 
the smoke which curled over the tops of the trees, 
the habitations of man, and the commencement ol 
agriculture. These spots were sometimes, by the 
aid of united labour, enlarged into %vhat w ere call- 
ed settlements; but more frequently were small 
and insulated ; though so rapid w^ere the changes, 
and so persevering the labours of those who had 
cast their fortunes on the success of the enterprise, 
that it was not difficult for the imagination of Eli- 
zabeth to conceive they were enlarging under her 
eye, while she w-as gazing, in mute wonder, at the 
alterations that a few short years had made in the 
aspect of the country. The points on the western 
side of the plain were both larger and more nume- 
rous than those on its eastern, and one in particu- 
lar thrust itself forward in such a manner as to 
form beautifully curved bays of snow on either 
side. On its extreme end a mighty oak stretched 
forward, as if to overshadow, with its branches, a 
spot which its roots were forbidden to enter. It 
had released itself from the thraldom, that a growth 
of centuries had imposed on the branches of the 
surrounding forest-trees, and threw its gnarled and 
fantastic arms abroad, in all the wildness of unre- 
strained liberty, A dark spot of a fe’v acres in ex- 
tent at the southern extremity of this beautiful flat, 
and immediately under the feet of our travellers^ 
alone showed, by its rippling surface, and the va- 
pours which exhaled from it, that what at first might 
seem a plain, was one of the mountain lakes, lock- 
ed in the frosts of w inter. A narrow current rush- 


THE PIONEERS. 


45 


ed impetuously from its bosom at the open place 
we have mentioned, and might be traced for a few 
miles, as it wound its way towards the south 
through the real valley, by its borders of hemlock 
and pine, and by the vapour which arose from its 
warmer surface into the chill atmosphere of the 
hills. The banks of this lovely basin, at its outlet, 
or southern end, were steep but not high ; and in 
that direction the land continued for many miles a 
narrow but level plain, along which the settlers 
had scattered their humble habitations, with a pro- 
fusion that bespoke the quality of the soil, and the 
comparative facilities of intercourse. Immediately 
on the bank of the lake, stood the village of Tem- 
pleton. It consisted of about fifty buildings, in- 
cluding those of every description, chiefly built of 
wood, and which, in their architecture, bore not 
only strong marks of the absence of taste, but also, 
by the slovenly and unfinished appearance of most 
of the dwelling's, indicated the hasty manner of 
their construction. To the eye, they presented a 
variety of colours. A few were white in both 
front and rear, but more bore that expensive co- 
lour on their fronts only, while their economical 
but ambitious owners had covered the remaining 
sides of their edifices with a dingy red. One or 
two were slowly assuming the russet of age ; while 
the uncovered beams that were to be seen through 
the broken windows of their second stories, show- 
ed, that either the taste, or the vanity of their pro- 
prietors, had led them to undertake a task which 
they were unable to accomplish. The whole were 
grouped together in a manner that aped the streets 
of a city, and were evidently so arranged, by the 
directions of one, who looked far ahead to the 
wants of posterity, rather than to the convenience 
of the present incumbents. Some three or four of 


16 


THE PIONEERS. 


the better sort of buildings, in addition to the uni- 
formity of their colour, were fitted with green 
blinds, that were rather strangely contrasted to the 
chill aspect of the lake, the mountains, the forests, 
and the wide fields of snow. Before the doors of 
these pretending dwellings, were placed a few sap- 
lings, either without branches, or possessing only 
the feeble shoots of one or two summer’s growth, 
that looked not unlike tall grenadiers on post, near 
the threshold of princes. In truth, the occupants 
of these favoured habitations were the nobles of 
Templeton, as Marmaduke was its king. They 
were the dwellings of two young men who were 
cunning in the law ; an equal number of that class 
who chaffered to supply the wants of the commu- 
nity under the significant title of store-keepers ; 
and a disciple of ^sculapius, who, for a novelty, 
brought more subjects into the world than he sent 
out of it. In the midst of this incongruous group 
of dwellings, rose the mansion of the Judge, tow- 
ering proudly above all its neighbours. It stood 
in the centre of an enclosure that included several 
acres, which were covered with fruit-trees. Some 
of these were of Indian origin, and began already 
to assume the moss and inclination of age, therein 
forming a very marked contrast to the infant plan- 
tations that peered over most of the picketed 
fences in the village. In addition to this show of 
cultivation, were two rows of young poplars, a tree 
but lately introduced into America, formally lining 
either side of a pathway, which led from a gate, 
that opened on the principal street, to the front 
door of the building. The house itself had been 
built entirely under the superintendence of a Mr. 
Richard Jones, whom we have already mentioned, 
and who, from a certain cleverness in small matters, 
and his willingness to exert his talents, added to 


THE PIONEERS. 


47 


the circumstance of their being sisters’ children, 
ordinarily superintended all the minor concerns of 
Marmaduke Temple’s business. Richard was fond 
of saying, that this child of his invention consisted 
of nothing more nor less, than what should form 
the ground- work of a clergyman’s discourse ; viz. 
a firstly, and a lastly. He had commenced his la- 
bours in the first year of their residence, by erect- 
ing a tall, gaunt edifice of wood, with its gable to- 
w^ards the highway. In this shelter, for it was but 
little more, the family resided for three years. By 
the end of that period, Richard had completed his 
design. He had availed himself, in this heavy un- 
dertaking, of the experience of a certain wander- 
ing, eastern mechanic, who, by exhibiting a few 
solid plates of English architecture, and talking 
learnedly of friezes, entablatures, and particularly 
of the composite order, had obtained a very undue 
influence over Richard’s taste, in every thing that 
pertained to that branch of the fine arts. Not but 
that Mr. Jones aflected to Consider Mr. Hiram 
Doolittle a perfect empiric in his profession ; be- 
ing in the constant habit of listening to his treatises 
on architecture, wuth a kind of indulgent smile, yet, 
either from an inability to oppose them by any 
thing plausible from his own stores of learning, or 
from a secret admiration of their truth, Richard 
generally submitted to the arguments of his coad- 
jutor. Together, they had not only erected a 
dwelling for Marmaduke, but had given a fashion 
to the architecture of the country. The compo- 
site order, Mr. Doolittle w'ould contend, w^as an 
order composed of many others, and was intended 
to be the most useful, for it admitted into its con- 
struction such alterations as convenience or cir- 
cumstances might require. To this proposition 
Richard very gravely assented ; and it was by this 


48 


THE PIONEERS. 


unison in sentiment that the composite order, or a 
style of architecture that emanated from the car- 
penter’s own genius, with a few suggestions from 
the other, became the fashion of the new county. 

The house itself, or the ‘‘ lastly,” was of stone , 
large, square, formal, and far from uncomfortable. 
These were four requisites, on wdiich Marmaduke 
had insisted with a little more than his ordinary 
pertinacity. But every thing else was peaceably 
6?signed to Richard and his associate. These wor- 
thies found but little opportunity for the display of 
their talents on a stone edifice, excepting in the 
roof and in the porch. The former, it was soon, 
decided, should be made with four faces and a plat- 
form, in order to hide a part of the building that 
all writers agreed was an object that ought to be 
concealed. To this arrangement, Mannaduke ob- 
jected the heavy snows that lay for months, fre- 
quently covering the earth to a depth of three or 
four feet. Happily, the facilities of the composite 
order presented themselves to effect a compromise, 
and the rafters were lengthened, so as to give a 
descent that should carry off the frozen element. 
But unluckily, some mistake was made in the ad- 
measurement of these material parts of the fabric, 
and as one of the greatest recommendations of Hi- 
ram was his ability to work by the “ square rule,” 
no opportunity was found of discovering the effect 
that was to be produced by this offspring of com- 
pound genius, until the massive timbers were raised, 
with much labour, on the four walls of the build- 
ing. Then, indeed, it was soon seen, that, in de- 
fiance of all rule, the roof was by far the most con- 
spicuous part of the edifice. Richard and his as- 
sociate consoled themselves with the belief, that 
the covering would aid in concealing this unnatu- 
ral elevation ; but every shingle that was laid was 


THE PIONEERS. 


49 


only multiplying objects to look at. Richard es- 
sayed to remedy the evil with paint, and four dif- 
ferent colours were laid on by his own hands. The 
first was a sky-blue, in the vain expectation that 
the eye might be cheated into the belief, it was 
the heavens themselves that hung so imposingly 
over Marmaduke’s dwelling ; the second was, what 
he called, a “ cloud-colour,” being nothing more 
nor less than an imitation of light smoke ; the third 
was what Richard termed an invisible green, which 
he laid on with a belief, that the deformity might 
be blended with the back-ground of pines, that 
rose, in tall grandeur, but a short distance in the 
rear of the mansion-house. But all these inge- 
nious expedients entirely failed, and our artists re- 
linquished the desire to conceal, and attempted to 
ornament, the offensive member. The last colour 
that Richard bestowed on the luckless roof, was a 
“ sun-shiny yellow so called, both from its re- 
semblance to, and its powers to resist, the rays of 
the great luminary. The platform, as well as the 
eaves of the house, were surmounted by gaudily 
painted railings, and the genius of Hiram was ex- 
erted in the fabrication of divers urns and mould- 
ings, that were scattered profusely around this part 
of their labours. Richard had originally a cunning 
expedient, by which the chimneys were intended 
to be so low, and so situated, as to resemble orna- 
ments on the balustrades ; but comfort required 
that the chimneys should rise with the roof, in or- 
der that the smoke might be carried off, and they 
thus became four extremely conspicuous objects in 
the view. 

As this was much the most important undertaking 
in which Mr. Jones was ever engaged, his failure 
produced a correspondent degree of mortification. 
At first, he whispered among his acquaintances, 

VOL. I. 5 


50 


THE PIONEERS. 


that it all proceeded from ignorance of the square 
rule on the part of Hiram, but as his eye became 
gradually accustomed to the object, he grew better 
satisfied with his labours, and instead of apologizing 
for the defects, he commenced praising the beau- 
ties of the mansion-house. He soon found hear- 
ers ; and, as wealth and comfort are at all times 
attractive, it was made a model for imitation on a 
small scale. In less than two years from its erec- 
tion, he had the pleasure of standing on the elevat- 
ed platform, and of looking down on three humble 
imitators of its beauty. — Thus it is ever with 
fashion, which even renders the faults of the great 
subjects of admiration. 

Slarmaduke bore this deformity in his dwelling 
with great good nature, and soon contrived, by his 
own improvements, to give an air both of respecta- 
bility and comfort to his place of residence ; still 
there was much of incongruity, even immediately 
about the mansion-house. Although poplars had 
been brought from Europe to ornament the grounds, 
and willows and other trees were gradually spring- 
ing up nigh the dwelling, yet many a pile of snow 
betrayed the presence of the stump of a mighty 
pine ; and even, in one or two instances, unsightly 
remnants of trees that had been partly destroyed 
by fire were seen rearing their black and glisten- 
ing columns, for twenty or thirty feet above the 
pure white of the snow. These, which in the lan- 
guage of the country are termed stubs, abounded 
in the open fields adjacent to the village, and were 
accompanied, occasionally, by the ruin of a pine or 
a hemlock that had been stripped of its bark, and 
which waved in melancholy grandeur its naked 
limbs to the blast, a skeleton of its former glory. 
But these unpleasant additions to the view were 
unnoticed by the delighted Elizabeth, who, as the 


THE PIONEERS. 


51 


horses slowly moved down the side of the moun- 
tain, saw only in gross the cluster of houses that 
lay like a map at her feet ; the fifty smokes, that 
were diagonally curling from the valley to the 
clouds ; the frozen- lake, as it lay embedded in 
mountains of evergreen, with the long shadows of 
the pines on its white surface, lengthening in the 
setting sun ; the dark riband of water, that gushed 
from the outlet, and was winding its way already 
towards the far distant Chesapeake — the altered, 
though still remembered, scenes of her childhood 
and of joy! 

Five years had here wrought greater changes 
than a century would produce in older countries, 
where time and labour have given permanency to 
the works of man. To the young hunter and the 
Judge the scene had less of novelty ; though none 
ever emerge from the dark forests of that moun- 
tain, and witness the glorious scenery of that beau- 
teous valley, as it bursts unexpectedly upon them, 
without a feeling of delight. The former cast one 
admiring glance from north to south, and then sunk 
his face again beneath the folds of his coat ; while 
the latter contemplated, with philanthropic plea- 
sure, the prospect of affluence and comfort, that 
w as expanding around him ; the result of his own 
enterprise, and much of it the fruits of his owui 
industry. 

The cheerful sound of sleigh-bells, ho^vever, 
soon attracted the attention of the whole party, as 
they came jingling up the sides of the mountain, at 
a rate that announced both a powerful team and a 
hard driver. The bushes which lined the high- 
w'ay interrupted the view, and they were close 
upon this vehicle before they discovered who 
were its occupants. 


CHAPTER IV. 


How now I whose mare’s dead what’s the matter. 

Falstaff. 


A FEW minutes resolved whatever doubts our 
travellers entertained, as to the description of 
those who were approaching them with such ex- 
hilarating sounds. A large lumber-sleigh, drawn 
by four horses, was soon seen dashing through the 
leafless bushes, which fringed the road that was 
here, as on the other side of the mountain, cut into 
the hill. The leaders were of gray, and. the pole- 
horses of a jet black. Bells, innumerable, were 
suspended from every pant of the harness, where 
one of those tinkling balls could be placed ; while 
the rapid movement of the equipage, in defiance 
of the steep ascent, announced the desire of the 
driver to ring them to the utmost. The first glance 
at this singular arrangement satisfied the Judge 
as to the character of those in the sleigh. It con- 
tained four male figures. On one of those stools 
that are used at writing-desks, lashed firmly to the 
sides of the vehicle, was seated a little man, en- 
veloped in a great coat fringed with fur, in such a 
manner that no part of him was visible excepting 
a face, of an unvarying red colour. There was a 
habitual upward look about the head of this gen- 


THE PIOHEEIiS. 


53 


tjeman, as if it were dissatisfied with the proximity 
to the earth that nature had decreed in his stature, 
and the expression of his countenance was that of 
busy care. He was the charioteer, and he guided 
the mettled animals that he drove along the preci- 
pice, with a fearless eye, and a steady hand. Im- 
mediately behind him, with his face toward th 
other two, was a tall figure, to whose appearance 
not even the duplicate over-coats which he wore,, 
aided by the corner of a horse-blanket, could give 
the appearance of strength. His face was protrud- 
ing from beneath a woollen night-cap ; and when 
he turned to the vehicle of Marmaduke as the 
sleighs approached each other, it seemed formed 
by nature to cut the atmosphere with the least 
possible resistance. The eyes alone appeared to 
create an obstacle, as from either side of his fore- 
head their light, blue, glassy balls projected. The 
sallow of his countenance was a colour too perma- 
nent to be affected even by the intense cold of the 
evening. Opposite to this personage, sat a square 
figure of large proportions. No part of his form 
was to be discovered through his over-dress, but a 
full face with an agreeable expression, that was il- 
luminated by a pair of animated black eyes of a 
lurking look, that gave the lie to every demure 
feature in his countenance. A fair, jolly wig fur- 
nished a neat and rounded outline to his visage, 
and he, as well as the other tw^o, wwe martin-skin 
caps as outward coverings for their heads. The 
fourth w'as a meek-looking, long-visaged man, 
without any other protection from the cold than 
that w’hich was furnished by a black surtout, made 
with some little formality, but which was rather 
thread-bare and rusty. He wore a hat of extreme- 
ly decent proportions, though frequent brushing 
had quite destroyed its nap. His face was pale, 
5 * ^ 


54 


THE PIONEERS. 


with a little melancholy, but so slightly expressed, 
as to leave the beholder in doubt, whether it pro- 
ceeded from mental or bodily ailment. The air 
had given it, just now, a slight and somewhat fe- 
verish flush. The character of his whole appear- 
ance, especially contrasted to the air of humour in 
his next companion, was that of a habitual, but sub- 
dued dejection. No sooner had the two sleighs 
.approached within speaking distance, than the^ 
driver of this fantastic equipage shouted aloud — 
Draw up in the quarry — draw up, thou king 
of the Greeks; draw into the quarry, Agamemnon, 
or 1 shall never be able to pass you. Welcome 
home, cousin ’duke — welcome, welcome, my black- 
eyed Bess. Thou seest, Marmaduke, that I have 
taken the field with an assorted cargo, to do thee 
honour. Monsieur Le Quoi has come out with 
only one cap; Old Fritz would not stay to finish 
the bottle ; and Mr. Grant has got to put the “last- 
ly” to his sermon, yet. Even all the horses would 
come — by the by. Judge, I must sell these blacks 
for you immediately ; they both interfere, and 
then the nigh one is a bad goer in double harness. 

I can get rid of them to ” 

“ Sell what thou wilt, Dickon,” interrupted the 
cheerful voice of the Judge, “ so that thou leavest 
me my daughter and my lands. Ah ! Fritz, my 
old friend, this is a kind compliment, indeed, for 
seventy to pay to five and forty. Monsieur Le 
Quoi, I am your servant. Mr. Grant,” lifting his 
cap, “ I feel indebted to your attention. Gentle- 
men, I make you acquainted with my child. 

Yours are names with which she is- very familiar.” 

“ Velcome, velcome, Tchooge,” said the elder 
ol the party, with a strong German accent. “ Miss 
Petsy vilt owe me a kiss.” 

“ And cheerfully will I pay it, my good sir,” 


THE PIONEERS. 


55 


cried the soft voice of Elizabeth ; which sounded, 
in the clear air of the hills, like tones of silver, 
amid the loud cries of Richard, and the manly 
greetings of the gentleman. ‘‘ I have always a kiss 
for my old friend, Major Hartmann.” 

By this time the gentleman on the front seat, 
who had been addressed as Monsieur Le Quoi, 
rose with some difficulty, owing to the impediment 
of his over coats, and steadying himself by placing 
one hand on the stool of the charioteer, with the 
other he removed his cap, and bowing politely to 
the Judge, and profoundly to Elizabeth, he said 
with a smile that opened a mouth of no common 
dimensions — 

“ Ver velcome home. Monsieur TempP. Ah ! 
Mam’selle Liz’bet, you ver humble sairvant.” 

“ Cover thy poll, Gaul, cover thy poll,” cried 
the driver, who was Mr. Richard Jones ; ‘‘ cover 
thy poll, or the frost will pluck out the remnant 
of thy locks. Had the hairs on the head of Abso- 
lom been as scarce as on this crown of thine, he 
might have been living to this day.” The jokes 
of Richard never failed of exciting risibility, for if 
others were unbending, he uniformly did honour 
to his own wit ; and he enjoyed a hearty laugh 
on the present occasion, while Mr. Le Quoi re- 
sumed his seat with a polite reciprocation in his 
mirth. The clergyman, for such was the office of 
Mr. Grant, modestly, though quite affectionately, 
exchanged his greetings with the travellers also, 
when Richard prepared to turn the heads of his 
horses homeward. 

It was in the quarry alone that he could affect 
this object, without ascending to the summit of the 
mountain. A very considerable excavation had 
been made into the side of the hill, at the point 
where Richard had succeeded in stopping the 


56 


THE PIONEERS. 


sleighs, from which the stones used for building in 
the village were ordinarily quarried, and in which 
he now attempted to turn his team. Passing itseli 
was a task of difficulty, and frequently of danger, 
in that narrow road ; but Richard had to meet 
the additional risk of turning his four-in-hand. 
I'he black very civilly volunteered his services to 
fake off (he leaders, and the Judge very earnestly 
seconded the measure with his advice. Richard 
treated the proposals with great disdain. — 

“ Why, and wherefore, cousin ’duke,” he ex- 
claimed a little angrily ; the horses are as gentle 
as lambs. You know that 1 broke the leaders my- 
and the pole-horses are too near my whip to 
]se restive. Here is Pvlr. Le Quoi, now, who must 
know something about driving, because he has 
rode out so often with me ; I will leave it to Mr. 
Le Quoi whether there is any danger.” 

Thus appealed to, it was not in the nature of the 
b'renchman to disappoint expectations that were 
so confidently formed ; although he sat looking 
dov/n the precipice which fronted him, as Richard 
turned his leaders into the quarry, with a pair of 
eyes that stood at least half an inch from his visage. 
The German’s muscles were unmoved, but his 
(piick sight scanned each movement with an un- 
derstanding expression, that blended amusement 
at Richard’s dilemma with anxiety* at their situa- 
tion. Mr. Grant placed his hands on the side of 
the sleigh, in preparation for a spring, but moral 
timidity deterred him from taking the leap that 
bodily apprehension strongly urged him to attempt. 

Richard, by a sudden application of his \-. hip, 
succeeded in forcing bis leaders into the snow- 
bank that covered the quarry ; but the instant that 
the impatient animals suffered by the crust, through 
^ which they broke at each step,*they positi*^6lv re- 


THE PIONEERS. 


57 


fused to move an inch further in "that direction. 
On the contrary, finding that the cries and blows 
of their driver were redoubled at this juncture, the 
leaders backed upon the pole-horses, who, in their 
turn, backed the sleigh. Only a single log lay 
above the pile which upheld the road, on the side 
toward the valley, which was now buried in the 
snow. The sleigh was easily forced across this 
slight impediment ; and before Richard became 
conscious of his danger, one half of the vehicle was 
projected over a precipice, which fell, nearly per- 
pendicularly, more than a hundred feet. The 
Frenchman, who, by his position, had a full view of 
their threatened flight, instinctively threw his body 
as far forward as possible in the sleigh, and cried, 
“ Ah ! Mon cher monsieur Deeck ! mon dieu ’ 
prenez gardez vous !” 

“ Donner and blitzen, Richart,” exclaimed the 
veteran German, looking over the side of the sleigh 
with unusual emotion, “ put you will preak ter 
sleigh and kilt ter horses.” 

“ Good Mr. Jones,” said the clergyman, losing 
the slight flush that cold had given to his cheeks, 
“ be prudent, good sir — be careful.” 

“ Get up, you obstinate devils !” cried Richard, 
catching a bird’s eye view of his situation, applying 
his whip with new vigour, and unconsciously kick- 
ing the stool on which he sat, as if inclined to urge 
the inanimate wood forward ; “ Get up, I say — 
Cousin ’duke, I shall have to sell the grays too ; 
they are the worst broken horses — Mr. Le Quaw!” 
Richard was too much agitated to regard his pro- 
nunciation, of which he was commonly a little 
vain ; “ Monsieur Le Quaw, pray get off my leg ; 
you hold my leg so tight, that it’s no wonder I 
can’t guide the horses.” 


58 


THE PIOIVEEES. 


“ Merciful Providence !” exclaimed the Judge, 
“ they will be all killed !’^ 

Elizabeth gave a piercing shriek, and the black 
of Agamemnon’s' face changed to a muddy white. 

At this critical moment, the young hunter, who, 
during the salutations of the parties, had sat in ra- 
ther sullen silence, sprang from the sleigh of Mar- 
maduke to the heads of the refractory leaders. The 
horses, who were yet suffering under the injudi- 
cious and somewhat random blows from Richard, 
were dancing up and down with that ominous 
movement, that threatens a sudden and uncontrol- 
lable start, and pressing backward instead of going 
into the quarry. The youth gave the leaders a 
powerful jerk, and they plunged aside, by the path 
they had themselves trodden, and re-entered the 
road in the position in which they were first halt- 
ed. The sleigh was whirled from its dangerous 
position, and upset with its runners outwards. The 
German and the divine were thrown rather un- 
ceremoniously into the highway, but without dan- 
ger to their bones. Richard appeared in the air, 
for a moment, describing the segment of a circle, 
of which the reins were the radii, and was landed 
at the distance of some fifteen feet, in that snow- 
bank which the horses had dreaded, right end up- 
permost. Here, as lie instinctively grasped the 
reins, as drowning men seize at straws, he admira- 
bly served the purpose of an anchor, to check the 
further career of his steeds. The Frenchman, who 
was on his legs in the act of springing from the 
sleigh, took an aerial flight also, much in that atti- 
tude which boys assume when they play leap-frog, 
and flying off in a tangent to the curvature of Ins 
course, came into the snow-bank head-foremost, 
where he remained, exhibiting two lathy legs on 


THE PIONEER??. 


59 


high, like scare-crows waving in a corn field. Ma- 
jor Hartmann, whose self-possession had been ad- 
mirably preserved during the whole evolution, was 
the first of the party that gained his feet and his 
voice. 

“Ter deyvel, Richart he exclaimed, in a 
voice half serious, half comical, “ put you unloat 
your sleigh very hantily.” 

It may be doubtful, whether the attitude in 
which Mr. Grant continued for an instant after his 
overthrow, was the one into which he had been 
thrown, or was assumed, in humbling himself be- 
fore the powder that he reverenced, in thanksgiving 
at his escape. When he rose from his knees, he 
began to gaze about him, with anxious looks, after 
the Welfare of his companions, while every joint 
in his body w^as trembling with nervous agitation. 
There was also a slight confusion in the faculties 
of Mr. Jones, that continued for some little time ; 
but as the mist gradually cleared from before his 
eyes, he saw that all was safe, and with an air of 
great self-satisfaction, he cried, “ Well — that was 
neatly saved, any how — it was a lucky thought in 
me to hold on the reins, or the fiery devils w^ould 
iiave been over the mountain by this time. How' 
well I recovered myself, cousin ’duke ! Another 
moment w^ould have been too late ; but I knew 
just the spot where to touch the ofF-leader ; that 
blow under his right flank, and the sudden jerk I 
gave with the reins, brought them round quite 
handsomely, I must own myself.” 

“ Thou jerk ! thou recover thyself, Dickon !” 
cried the Judge, whose fears were all vanished in 
mirth at the discomfiture of the party ; “ but for 
that brave lad yonder, thou and thy horses, or ra- 
ther mine, would have assuredly been dashed to 
pieces — But where is Monsieur Le Quoi ?” 


60 


THE PIONEERS. 


Oh ! mon cher Juge ! Mon ami !” cried a 
smothered voice, “ praise be God I live ; vill-a 
you, Mister Agamemnon, be pleased come down 
ici, and help-a me on my foot ?” 

The divine and the negro seized the incarce- 
rated Gaul by his legs, and extricated him from a 
snow-bank of three feet in depth, whence his voice 
had sounded as from the tombs. The thoughts of 
Mr. Le Quoi, immediately on his liberation, were 
not extremely collected ; and when he reached the 
light, he threw his eyes upwards, in order to exa- 
mine the distance he had fallen. His good hu- 
mour returned, however, with a knowledge of his 
safety, though it was some little time before he 
clearly comprehended the case. 

“ What, monsieur,” said Richard, who was bu- 
sily assisting the black in taking off the leaders ; 
‘‘ are you there ? I thought I saw you flying up 
towards the top of the mountain but just now.” 

“ Praise be God, I no fly down into de lake,” 
returned the Frenchman, with a visage that was 
divided between pain, occasioned by a few large 
scratches that he had received in forcing his head 
through the crust, and the look of complaisance that 
seemed natural to his pliable features : “ ah ! mon 
cher Mister Deeck, vat you do next ? — dere be 
noting you no try.” 

‘‘ The next thing, I trust, will be to learn to 
drive,” said the Judge, who had busied himself in 
throwing the buck, together with several articles 
of his baggage, from his own sleigh into the snow ; 
“ here are seats for you all,, gentlemen ; the even- 
ing grows piercingly cold, and the hour approaches 
for the service of Mr. Grant : we will leave friend 
Jones to repair the damages, with the assistance of 
Apmemnon, and hasten to a warm fire. Here, 
Dickon, are a few articles of Bess’s trumpery, that 


THE PIONEERS. 


61 


you can throw into your sleigh when ready, and 
there is also a deer of my taking, that I will thank 
you to bring — Aggy ! remember there will be a 
visit from Santaclaus to your stocking to-night, if 
you are smart and careful about the buck, and get 
in in season.” 

The black grinned wdth the consciousness of the 
bribe that was thus offered him for his silence on 
the subject of the deer, while Richard, without in 
the least waiting for the termination of his cousin’s 
speech, at once began his reply — 

“ Learn to drive, sayest thou, cousin ’duke ? la 
there a man in the county who knows more of 
horse-flesh than myself? Who broke in the filly, 
that no one else dare mount? though your coach- 
man did pretend that he had tamed her before 1 
took her in hand, but any body could see that he 
lied — he was a great liar, that John — what’s that, 
a buck ?” — Richard abandoned the horses, and ran 
to the spot where Marmaduke had thrown the 
deer : “ It is a buck indeed ! I am amazed ! Yes, 
here are two holes in him ; he has fired both bar- 
rels, and hit him each time. Ecod ! how Marma- 
duke will brag ! he is a prodigious bragger about 
any small matter like this now ; well, well, to think 
that ’duke has killed a buck before Christmas ! 
There will be no such thing as living with him — 
they are both bad shots though, mere chance — 
mere chance ; — now, I never fired twice at a clo- 
ven hoof in my life ; — it is hit or miss with me — 
dead or runaway : — had it been a bear, or a wild- 
cat, a man might have wanted both barrels. Here ! 
you Aggy ! how far off was the Judge when this 
buck was shot ?” 

“ Eh ! Massa Richard, may be a ten rod,” cried 
the black, bending under one of the horses, with 
the pretence of fastening a buckle, but in reality 

VOL. I. 6 


62 


THE PIONEEHS. 


to conceal the broad grin that opened a mouth 
from ear to ear. 

‘‘ Ten rod !” echoed the other ; “ why, Aggy, 
the deer I killed last winter was at twenty — yes ! 
if any thing it was nearer thirty than twenty. [ 
wouldn’t shoot at a deer at ten rod : besides, you 
may remember, Aggy, I only fired once.” 

‘‘ Yes, Massa Richard, I ’member ’em ! Natty 
Bumppo fire t’oder gun. You know, sir, the folk 
say. Natty kill ^em.” 

“ The folks lie, you black devil !” exclaimed 
Richard in great heat. ‘‘ I have not shot even a 
gray squirrel these four years, to which that old 
rascal has not laid claim, or some one for him. 
This is a damn’d envious world that we live in — 
people are always for dividing the credit of a thing, 
in order to bring down merit to their own level. 
Now they have a story about the Patent, that Hi- 
ram Doolittle helped to plan the steeple to St. 
Paul’s ; when Hiram knows that it is entirely 
mine ; a little taken from a print of its namesake 
in London, I own ; but all the rest is mine.” 

“ I don’t know where he come from,” said the 
black, losing every mark of humour in an expres- 
sion of deep admiration, “ but eb’ry body say, he 
wonnerful hansome.” 

“ And well they may say so, Aggy,” cried Ri- 
chard, leaving the buck and walldng up to the ne- 
gro with the air of a man who has new interest 
awakened within him. “ J think I may say, with- 
out bragging, that it is the handsomest and the 
most scientific country church in America. I know 
that the Connecticut settlers talk about their Wea- 
thersfield meeting-house ; but I never believe more 
than half of what they say, they are such uncon- 
scionable braggers. Just as you have got a thing 
done, if they see it likely to be successful, they 


THE PIONEERS. 


63 


are always for interfering ; and then it’s ten to one 
but they lay claim to half, or even all of the credit. 
You may remember, Aggy, when 1 painted the 
sign of the bold dragoon for Captain Hollister, 
there was that fellow, who was about town laying 
brick dust on the houses, came one day and offered 
to mix what I call the streaky black, for the tail 
and mane, and then, because it looks just like 
horse hair, he tells every body that the sign was 
painted by himself and Squire Jones. If Manna- 
duke don’t send that fellow off the Patent, he may 
ornament his village with his own hands, for me.” 
Here Richard paused a moment, and cleared his 
throat by a loud hem, while the negro, who w as 
all this time busily engaged in preparing their 
sleigh, proceeded with his work in respectful si- 
lence. Owdng to the religious scruples of the 
Judge, Aggy was the servant of Richard, who had 
his services for a time^ and who, of course, com- 
manded a legal claim to the respect of the young 
negro. But when any dispute between his lawful 
master and his real benefactor occurred, the black 
felt too much deference for both to express any 
opinion. In the mean while, Richard continued 
watching the negro as he fastened buckle after 
buckle, until, stealing a look of consciousness to- 
ward the other, he continued, “ Now^, if that young 
man, who was in your sleigh, is a real Connecticut 
settler, he will be telling every body how he saved 
my horses, w^hen, if he had Just let them alone for 
one half a minute longer, I would have brought 
them in much better, without upsetting, with the 
whip and rein — it spoils a horse to give him his 
head. I should not wonder if I had to sell the 
whole team, just for that one jerk that he gave 
them.” Richard again paused, and again hem- 
med ; for his conscience smote him a little, for 


64 


THE PIONEERS. 


censuring a man who had just saved his life — 
“ Who is the lad, Aggy — I don’t remember to have 
seen him before ?” 

The black recollected the hint about Santaclaus ; 
and while he briefly explained how they had taken 
him on the top of the mountain, he forbore to add 
any thing concerning the accident of the wound, 
only saying, that he believed the youth was a stran- 
ger. It was so usual for men of the first rank to 
take into their sleighs any one whom they found 
toiling through the snow, that Richard was per- 
fectly satisfied with this explanation. He heard 
Aggy, with great attention, and then remarked, 
“ Well, if the lad has not been spoiled by the 
people in Templeton, he maybe a modest young 
man, and as he certainly meant well, I shall take 
some notice of him — perhaps he is land-hunting — I 
say, Aggy — may be he is out hunting 

“ Eh ! yes, massa Richard,” said the black, a 
little confused ; for as Richard did all the flogging, 
he stood in great terror of his master, in the main 
— “ yes, sir, I b’lieve he be.” 

“ Had he a pack and an axe 

“ No, sir, only he rifle.” 

“ Rifle !” exclaimed Richard, observing the con- 
fusion of the negro, which now amounted to ter- 
ror^ ‘‘ By Jove ! he killed the deer. I knew that 
Marmaduke couldn’t kill a buck on the jump — 
How was it, Aggy ? tell me all about it, and I’ll 
roast ’duke quicker than he can roast his saddle — 
How was it, Aggy ? the lad shot the buck, and the 
Judge bought if, ha ! and is taking him down to 
get the pay ?” 

The pleasure of this discovery had put Richard 
in such a good humour, that the negro’s fears in 
some measure vanished, and he remembered the 


THE PIOKEERS. 


65 


stojcking. After a gulp or two, he made out to re- 

p^y— 

You forgit a two shot, sir ?” 

“ Don’t lie, you black rascal !” cried Richard, 
stepping on the snow-bank to measure the distance 
from his long lash to the negro’s back ; “ speak 
the truth, or I’ll trounce you.” While speaking, 
the stock was slowly rising in Richard’s right hand, 
and the lash drawing through his left, in the scien- 
tific manner with wdiich drummers apply the cat, 
and Agamemnon, after turning each side of him- 
self towards his master, and finding all equally un- 
willing to remain there, forgetful of his great name, 
fairly gave in. In a very few words he made his 
master acquainted with the truth, at the same time 
earnestly conjuring Richard to protect him from 
the displeasure of the Judge. 

I’ll do it, boy, I’ll do it,” cried the other, rub- 
bing his hands with delight ; “ say nothing, but 
leave me to manage ’duke — 1 have a damn’d great 
mind to leave the deer on the hill, and to make 
the fellow send for his own carcass : but no, I will 
let Marmaduke tell a few bouncers about it before 
I come out upon him. Come, hurry in, Aggy, I 
must help to dress the lad’s wound ; this Yankee 
doctor knows nothing of surgery — I had to hold 
old Milligan’s leg for him, while he cut it off.” — 
Richard was now seated on the stool again, and 
the black taking the hind seat, the steeds were put 
in motion towards home. As they dashed down 
the hill, on a fast trot, the driver occasionally turn- 
ed his face to Aggy, and continued speaking ; for 
notwithstanding their recent rupture, the most 
perfect cordiality was again existing between them. 
‘‘ This goes to prove that I turned the horses with 
the reins, for no man who is shot in the right 
shoulder, can have strength enough to bring round 
6 ^ 


68 


THE PIONEERS. 


such obstinate devils. I knew I did it from the 
first ; but I did not want to multiply words with 
Marmaduke about it — Will you bite, you villain ? — 
hip, boys, hip ! Old Natty too, that is the best of 
it — Well, well — ’duke will say no more about my 
deer — and the Judge fired both barrels, and hit 
nothing but a poor lad, who was behind a pine- 
tree. I must help that quack to take out the buck 
shot for the poor fellow.” In this manner Ri- 
chard descended the mountain ; the bells ringing, 
and his tongue going, until they entered the vil- 
lage, when the whole attention of the driver was 
devoted to a display of his horsemanship, to the 
admiration of all the gaping women and children 
who thronged the windows to witness the arrival 
of their landlord and his daughter. 


CHAPTER V. 


Nathaniel'* coat, gir, was not fully made, 

And Gabriel’s pumps were all unfinish’d i’ th’ heel ; 
Thera was no link to colour Peter’s hat, 

And Walter’s dagger was not come from sheathing : 
I’here were none fine, but Adam, Ralph, and Gregory. 

Shakspeare. 


After winding along the side of the mountain, 
the road, on reaching the gentle declivity which 
lay at the base of the hill, turned at a right angle 
to its former course, and shot down an inclined 
plane, directly into the village of Templeton. The 
rapid little stream, that we have already mention- 
ed, was crossed by a bridge of hewn timber, which 
manifested, by its rude construction, and the unne- 
cessary size of its frame-work, both the value of 
labour and the abundance of materials. This little 
torrenf, whose dark waters gushed in mimic tur- 
bulence over the limestones that lined its bottom, 
was nothing less than one of the many sources of 
the Susquehanna ; a river, to which the Atlantic 
herself has extended her right arm, to welcome 
into her bosom. It was at this point, that the 
powerful team of Mr. Jones brought him up to the 
more sober steeds of our travellers. A small hill 
was risen, and the astonished Elizabeth found 
herself at once amid the incongruous dwellings 
of the village. The street was laid out of the 
width of an ordinary avenue to a city, notwith- 


68 


THE PIONEERS. 


standing that the eye might embrace, in one vie /, 
thousands, and tens of thousands of acres, that 
were yet tenanted only by the beasts of the forest. 
But such had been the will of her father, and such 
had also met the wishes of his followers. To them, 
the road, that made the most rapid approaches to 
the condition of the old, or, as they expressed it, 
the down countries, was the most pleasant ; and 
surely nothing could look more like civilization 
than a city, even if it lay in a wilderness ! The 
width of the street, for so it was called, might have 
been one hundred feet; but the track for the 
sleighs was much more limited. On either side 
of the highway were piled before the houses huge 
heaps of logs, that were daily increasing rather 
than diminishing in size, notwithstanding the enor- 
mous fires that might be seen lighting every win- 
dow through the dusk of the evening. 

The last object at which Elizabeth had gazed 
when they renewed their journey, after the ren- 
contre with Richard, was the sun, as it expanded 
in the refraction of the horizon, and over whose 
disk the dark umbrage of a pine w as stealing, w^hile 
it slowdy sunk behind the western hills. But his 
setting rays darted along the openings of the moun- 
tain she was on, and lighted the shining covering 
of the birches, until their smooth and glossy coats 
nearly rivalled the mountain-sides in colour". The 
outline of each dark pine was delineated far in the 
depths of the forest ; and the rocks, too smooth 
and too perpendicular to retain the snow that had 
fallen, brightened, as if smiling in scorn at the 
changes in the season. But at each step, as they 
descended, Elizabeth observed that they were 
leaving the day behind them. Even the heartless, 
but bright rays of a December sun w^ere missed, 
as they glided into the cold gloom of the valley. 


THE PIONEERS. 


69 


Along the summits of the mountains in the eastern 
range, it is true, that the light still lingered, reced 
ing step by step from the earth into the few clouds 
that were gathering, wdth the evening mist, about 
the limited horizon ; but the frozen lake lay with- 
out a shadow on its chill bosom ; the dwellings 
were becoming already gloomy and indistinct ; and 
the wood-cutters were shouldering their axes, and 
preparing to enjoy, throughout the long evening 
before them, the comforts of those exhilarating 
fires that their labour had been supplying with fuel. 
They paused only to gaze at the passing sleighs, 
to lift their caps to Marmaduke, to exchange fa- 
miliar nods with Richard, and each disappeared in 
his dwelling. The paper curtains dropped behind 
our travellers in every window, shutting from the 
air even the fire-light of their cheerful apartments ; 
and when the horses of her father turned, with a 
rapid whirl, into the open gate of the mansion- 
house, and nothing stood before her but the cold, 
dreary stone-walls of the building, as she approach- 
ed them through an avenue of young and leafless 
poplars, Elizabeth felt as if all the loveliness of the 
mountain-view had vanished like the fancies of a 
dream. Marmaduke retained so much of his early 
habits as to reject the use of bells, but the equi- 
page of Mr. Jones came dashing through the gate 
after them, sending its jingling sounds through 
every cranny in the building, and in a moment the 
dwelling was in an uproar. 

On a stone platform, of rather small proportions, 
considering the size of the building, Richard and 
Hiram had, conjointly, reared four little columns 
of wood, which in their turn supported the shingled 
roofs of the portico — this was the name that Mi-. 
Jones had thought proper to give to a very plain, 
covered entrance to the mansion. The ascent to 


70 


THE PIONEERS. 


the platform was by five or six stone steps, some- 
what hastily laid together, in which the frost had 
already begun to move from their symmetrical po- 
sitions. But the evils of a cold climate, and a su- 
perficial cons'truction, did not end here. As the 
steps lowered, the platform necessarily fell also, 
and the foundations actually left the superstructure 
suspended in the air, leaving an open space of a 
foot from the base of the pillars to the bases on 
which they had originally been placed. It was 
lucky for the whole fabric, that the carpenter, who 
did the manual part of the labour, had fastened the 
canopy of this classic entrance so firmly to the side 
of the house, that, w^hen the base deserted the su- 
perstructure in the manner we have described, and 
the pillars, for the want of a foundation, w^ere no 
longer of service to support the roof, the roof was 
able to uphold the pillars. Here was indeed an 
unfortunate gap left in the ornamental part of Ri- 
chard’s column ; but like the window in Aladdin’s 
palace, it seemed only left in order to prove the 
fertility of its master’s resources. The composite 
order again offered its advantages, and a second 
edition of the ba'se was given, as the booksellers 
say, with additions and improvements. It was ne- 
cessarily larger, and it was properly ornamented 
with mouldings : still the steps continued to yield, 
and, at the moment when Elizabeth returned to 
her father’s door, a few rough w'edges were driven 
under the pillars to keep them steady, and to pre- 
vent their weight from separating them from the 
pediment w^hich they ought to have supported. 

From the great door, which opened into the 
porch, emerged two or three female domestics, and 
one male. The latter was bare-headed, but evi- 
dently more dressed than usual, and in the whole, 
was of so singular a formation and attire, as to de- 


THE PIONEERS. 


71 


serve a more minute description. He was about 
five feet in height, of a square and athletic frame, 
with a pair of shoulders that would have fitted a 
grenadier. His low stature was rendered the more 
striking by a bend forward that he was in the habit 
of assuming, for no apparent reason, unless it might 
be in order to give a greater freedom to his arms, 
in a particularly sweeping swing, that they con- 
stantly practised when their master was in motion. 
His face was long, of a fair complexion, burnt to a 
fiery red ; with a snub nose, cocked into an inve- 
terate pug ; a mouth of enormous dimensions, filled 
with fine teeth ; and a pair of blue eyes, that 
seemed to look about them, on surrounding objects, 
with vast contempt. His head composed full one- 
fourth of his whole length, and the queue that de- 
pended from its rear occupied another. He wore 
a coat of very light drab cloth, with buttons as 
large as dollars, bearing the impression of a “ foul 
anchor.” The skirts were extremely long, reach- 
ing quite to the calf, and were broad in proportion. 
Beneath, there were a vest and breeches of red 
plush, somewhat worn and soiled. He had shoes 
with large buckles, and stockings of blue and white 
stripes. 

This odd-looking figure reported himself to be 
a native of the county of Cornwall, in the island 
of Great Britain. His boyhood had passed in the 
neighbourhood of the tin mines, and his youth as 
the cabin-boy of a smuggler, between Falmouth 
and Guernsey. From this trade he was impressed 
into the service of his king, and, for the want of a 
better, had been taken into the cabin, first as a 
servant, and finally as steward to the captain. 
Here he acquired the art of making chowder, lob- 
skous, and one or two other sea-dishes, and, as he 
was fond of saying, had an opportunity of seeing 


72 


THE PIONEERS. 


the world. With the exception of one or two out- 
ports in France, and an occasional visit to Ports- 
mouth, Plymouth, and Deal, he had in reality seen 
no more of mankind, however, than if he had been 
riding a donkey in one of his native mines. But, 
being discharged from the navy at the peace of ’83, 
he declared, that, as he had seen all the civilized 
parts of the world, he was inclined to a trip to the 
wilds of America. We will not trace him in his 
brief wanderings, under the influence of that spirit 
of emigration, that sometimes induces a dapper 
Cockney to quit his home, and lands him, before 
the sound of Bow bells is fairly, out of his ears, 
within the roar of the cataract of Niagara, but shall 
only add, that, at a very early day, even before 
Elizabeth had been sent to school, he had found 
his way into the family of Marmaduke Temple, 
where, owing to a combination of qualities, he 
held, under Mr. Jones, the office of major-domo. 
The name of this worthy was Benjamin Penguil- 
lan, according to his own pronunciation ; but, ow- 
ing to a marvellous tale that he was in the habit 
of relating, concerning the length of time he had 
to labour to keep his ship from sinking after Rod- 
ney’s victory, he had universally acquired the nick- 
name of Ben Pump. 

By the side of Benjamin, and pressing forward 
as if a little jealous of her station, stood a middle- 
aged woman, dressed in calico, rather violently 
contrasted in colour, with a tall, meager, shapeless 
figure, sharp features, and a somewhat acute ex- 
pression in her physiognomy. Her teeth were 
mostly gone, and what did remain were of a light 
yellow. The skin of her nose was drawn tightly 
over the member, and then suffered to hang in 
large wrinkles in her cheeks and about her mouth. 
She took snuff in such large quantities, as to ere- 


THE PIONEERS. 


73 


ate the impression, that she owed the saffron of 
her lips and the adjacent parts, to this circum- 
stance ; but it was the unvarying colour of her 
whole face. She presided over the female part of 
the domestic arrangements, in the capacity of house- 
keeper ; was a spinster, and bore the name of Re- 
markable Pettibone. To Elizabeth she was an 
entire stranger, having been introduced into the 
family since the death of her mother. 

In addition to these, were three or four subor- 
dinate menials, mostly black, some appearing at 
the principal door, and some running from the end 
of the building, where stood the entrance to the 
cellar-kitchen. 

Besides these, there was a general rush from 
Richard’s kennel, accompanied with every canine 
tone, from the howl of the wolf-dog to the petu- 
lant bark of the terrier. The master received 
their boisterous salutations with a variety of imi- 
tations from his own throat, when the dogs, pro- 
bably. from shame at being outdone, ceased their 
outcry. One stately, powerful mastiff, who wore 
around his neck a brass collar, with “ M. T.” en- 
graved in large letters on the rim, alone was si- 
lent. He walked majestically, amid the confusion, 
to the side of the Judge, where, receiving a kind 
pat or two, he turned to Elizabeth, who even 
stooped to kiss him, as she called him kindly by the 
name of “ Old Brave.” The animal seemed to 
know her, as she ascended the steps, supported by 
Monsieur Le Quoi and her father, in order to pro- 
tect her from falling on the ice, with which they 
were covered. He looked wistfully after her 
figure, and when the door closed on the whole 
party, he laid himself in a kennel that was placed 
nigh by, as if conscious that the hous*» contained 
something of additional value to guard 

TOL. I. 7 


74 


'j;he pioneers. 


Elizabeth followed her father, who paused a mo- 
ment to whisper a message to one of his domes- 
tics, into a large hall, that was dimly lighted by 
two candles, placed in high, old-fashioned, brass 
candlesticks. The door closed, and the party were 
at once removed from an atmosphere that was 
nearly at zero, to one of sixty degrees above. In 
the centre of the hall stood an enormous stove, the 
sides of which appeared to be quivering with the 
heat it emitted ; from which a large, straight pipe, 
leading through the ceiling above, carried off the 
smoke. An iron basin, containing water, was 
placed on this furnace, for such only it could be 
called, in order to preserve a proper humidity in 
the apartment. The room was carpeted, and fur- 
nished with convenient, substantial furniture, of a 
great variety in its appearance and materials ; some 
of which was brought from the city, and the re- 
mainder manufactured by the mechanics of Tem- 
pleton. There was a sideboard of mahogany, in- 
laid with ivory, and bearing enormous handles of 
glittering brass, and groaning under piles of silver 
plate. Near it stood a set of prodigious tables, 
made of the wild cherry, to imitate the imported 
wood of ihe sideboard, but plain, and without or- 
nament of any kind. Opposite to these stood a 
smaller table, formed from a lighter coloured wood, 
through the grains of which the wavy lines of the 
curled-maple of the mountains were undulating in 
precise regularity. Near to this, in a corner, stood 
a heavy, old-fashioned, brass-faced clock, encased 
in a high box, with the dark hue of the black-wal- 
nut from the seashore. An enormous settee, or 
sofa, covered with light chintz, stretched along the 
walls for near twenty feet on one side of the hall, 
and chairs of wood, painted a light yellow, with 
black lines that were drawn by no very steady 


THE PIONEERS. 


75 


hand, were ranged opposite, and in the intervals 
between the other pieces of furniture. A Fahren- 
heit’s thermometer, in a mahogany case, and with 
a barometer annexed, was hung against the wall, 
at some little distance from the stove, which Ben- 
jamin consulted, every half-hour, with prodigious 
veneration. Two small glass chandeliers were 
suspended at equal distances between the stove 
and the outer doors, one of which opened at either 
end of the hall, and gilt lustres were affixed to the 
frame-work of the numerous side doors that led 
from the apartment. Some little display in archi- 
tecture had been made in constructing these 
frames and casings, which were surmounted with 
pediments, that, bore each a little pedestal in its 
centre. On these pedestals were small busts in 
blacked plaster of Paris. The style of the pedes- 
tals, as well as the selection of the busts, had been 
executed under the auspices of Mr. Jones. On 
one stood Homer, a most striking likeness, Richard 
affirmed, “ as any one might see, for it was blind.” 
Another bore the image of a smooth visaged gen- 
tleman, with a pointed beard, whom he called 
Shakspeare. A third ornament was an urn, which, 
from its shape, Richard was accustomed to say, 
intended to represent itself as holding the ashes 
of Dido. A fourth was certainly old Franklin, in 
his cap and spectacles. A filth as surely bore the 
dignified composure of the face of Washington. x\ 
sixth was a non descript, representing a man 
with a shirt-collar open,” to use the language of 
Richard, “ with a laurel on his head ; — it was Ju- 
lius Csesar or Dr. Faustus ; there were good rea- 
sons for believing either.” 

The walls were hung with a dark, lead-coloured 
English paper, that represented Britannia weeping 
over the tomb of Wolfe. The hero himself stood 


76 


THE PIONEERS. 


at a little distance from the mourning goddess, at 
the edge of the paper. Each width contained the 
figure, with the slight exception of one arm of the 
General running over on to the next piece, so that 
when Richard essayed, with his own hands, to put 
together this delicate outline, some difficulties oc- 
curred, that prevented a nice conjunction, and 
Britannia had reason to lament, in addition to the 
loss of her favourite’s life, numberless cruel ampu- 
tations of his right arm. 

The luckless cause of these unnatural divisions 
announced his presence in the hall by a loud crack 
of his whip, that startled the party, and his voice 
was first heard, exclaiming — 

a Why, Benjamin ! you Ben Pump ! is this the 
manner in which you receive the heiress ? Excuse 
him, cousin Elizabeth. The arrangements were 
too delicate and nice to be trusted to every one ; 
but now I am here, things will go on better. Come, 
light up, Mr. Penguillan, liglit up, light up, and 
let us see one another’s faces. Well, ’duke, I 
have brought home your deer; what is to be done 
with it, ha 

“ By the lord. Squire,” commenced Benjamin 
in reply, first giving his mouth a wipe with the 
back of his hand, “ if this here thing had been or- 
dered sum’at earlier in the day, it might have been 
got up, d’ye see, to your liking. I had mustered 
all hands, and was exercising candles, when you 
hove in sight ; but when the women heard your 
bells, they started an end, as if they were riding 
the boatswain’s colt ; and, if-so-be there is that 
man in the house, who can bring up a parcel of 
Avomen Avhen they have got headway on them, un- 
til they’ve run out the end of their rope, his name 
is not Benjamin Pump. But Miss Betsy here must 
have altered more than a privateer in disguise, 


THE PIONEERS. 


77 


since she has got on her woman’s duds, if she will 
go to take offence with an old fellow, for the small 
matter of lighting a few candles.” 

Elizabeth and her father continued silent, for 
both experienced the same sensations on entering 
the hall. The former had resided one year in the 
building before she left home for the school, and 
the figure of its late lamented mistress was missed 
by both the husband and the child. 

But candles had been placed in the chandeliers' 
and lustres, and the attendants were so far reco- 
vered from their surprise as to recollect their use : 
the oversight was immediately remedied, and in a 
minute the apartment was in a blaze of light. 

The slight melancholy of our heroine and her 
father was banished by this brilliant interruption ; 
and the whole party began to lay aside the num- 
berless garments that they had worn in the air. 

During this operation, Richard kept up a desul- 
tory dialogue with the different domestics, occa- 
sionally throwing out a remark to the Judge con- 
cerning the deer; but as his conversation at 
such moments was much like an accompaniment 
on a piano, a thing that is heard without being at- 
tended to, we will not undertake the task of re- 
cording his wonderfully diffuse discourse. 

The instant that Remarkable Pettibone had exe- 
cuted her portion of the labour in illuminating, she 
returned to a position near Elizabeth, with the ap- 
parent motive of receiving the clothes that the 
other threw aside, but in reality to examine, with 
an air of mingled curiosity and jealousy, the ap- 
pearance of the lady who was to supplant her in 
the administration of their domestic economy. The 
housekeeper felt a little appalled, when, after 
cloaks, coats, shawls, and socks had been taken off 
in succession, the large black hood was removed, 

7 * 


78 


THE PIONEERS. 


and the dark ringlets, shining like the raven’s wing, 
fell from her head, and left the sweet but com- 
manding features of the young lady exposed to 
view. Nothing could he fairer and more spotless 
than the forehead of Elizabeth, and preserve the 
appearance of life and health. Her nose would 
have been called Grecian, but for a softly round- 
ed swell, that gave in character to the feature what 
it lost in beauty. Her mouth, at first sight, seem- 
ed only made for love ; but the instant that its 
muscles moved, every expression that womanly 
dignity ^ould utter played around it with the 
flexibility of female grace. It spoke not only to 
the ear, but to the eye. So much, added to a form 
of exquisite proportions, rather full and rounded 
for her years, and of the tallest medium height, 
she inherited from her mother. Even the colour 
of her eye, the arched brows, and the long silken 
lashes,’ came from the same source ; but its expres- 
sion was her father’s. Inert and composed, it wa» 
soft, benevolent, and attractive ; but it could be 
roused, and that without much difficulty. At such 
moments it was still beautiful, though it was beau- 
ty in its grandeur. As the last shawl fell aside, 
and she stood dressed in a rich blue riding-habit, 
that fitted her form with the nicest exactness ; her 
cheeks burning with roses, that bloomed the richer 
for the heat of the hall, and her eyes slightly suf- 
fused with moisture, that rendered their ordinary 
beauty more dazzling, and with every feature of 
her speaking countenance illuminated by the lights 
that flared around her. Remarkable felt that hei 
own power had ended. 

The business of unrobing had been simultaneous 
Marmaduke appeared in a suit of plain neat black ; 
Monsieur Le Quoi,in a coat of snuff colour, cover- 
ing a vest of embroidery, with breeches, and silk 


THE PIONEERS. 


79 


stockings, and buckles — that were commonly 
thought to be of paste. Major Hartmann wore a 
coat of sky-blue, with large brass buttons, a club 
wig, and boots ; and Mr. Richard Jones had set 
off his dapper little form in a frock of bottle-green, 
with- bullet buttons ; by one of which the sides 
were united over his well-rounded waist, opening 
above, so as to show a jacket of red cloth, with an 
under-vest of flannel, faced with green velvet, and 
below, so as to exhibit a pair of buckskin breeches, 
with long, soiled, white-top boots, and spurs ; one 
of the latter a little bent, from its recent attacks on 
the unfortunate stool. 

When the young lady had extricated herself 
from the duresse of her garments, she was at liber- 
ty to gaze about her, and to examine not only the 
household over which she was to preside, but also 
the air and manner in which their domestic ar- 
rangements were conducted. Although there was 
much incongruity in the furniture and appearance 
of the hall, there was nothing mean. The floor 
was carpeted, even in its remotest corners. The 
brass candlesticks, the gilt lustres, and the glass 
chandeliers, whatever might be their keeping as to 
propriety and taste, were admirably kept as to 
all the purposes of use and comfort. They were 
all clean, and each glittering, in the strong light of 
the apartment, with its peculiar lustre. Compared 
with the chill aspect of the December night with- 
out, the warmth and brilliancy of the apartment 
produced an effect that was not unlike enchant- 
ment. Her eye had not time to detect in detail the 
little errors, which, in truth, existed, but was glan- 
cing around her in delight, when an object arrested 
her view, that was strongly contrasted to the smil- 
ing faces and neatly attired personages who had thus 
assembled to do honour to the heiress of Tempieton. 


80 


THE PIONEERS. 


In a corner of the hall, near to the grand en- 
trance, stood the young hunter, unnoticed, and for 
the moment apparently forgotten. But even the 
forgetfulness of the Judge, which, under the influ- 
ence of strong emotion, had banished the recollec- 
tion of the wound of this stranger, seemed Surpass- 
ed by the absence of mind in the youth himself. 
On entering the apartment he had mechanically 
lifted his cap, and exposed a head, covered with 
hair that rivalled in colour and gloss the locks of 
Elizabeth. Nothing could have wrought a greatei 
transformation, than the single act of removing the 
rough fox-skin cap. If there w^as much that was 
prepossessing in the countenance of the young 
hunter, there w^as something noble in the rounded 
outlines of his head and brow'. The very air and 
manner wdth w'hich the member haughtily main- 
tained itself over the coarse and even wild attire, 
in which the rest of his frame was clad, bespoke 
not only familiarity with a splendour that in those 
new' settlements was thought to be unequalled, but 
something very like contempt also. 

The hand that held the cap rested lightly on 
the little ivory-mounted piano of Elizabeth, wdth 
neither rustic restraint, nor obtrusive vulgarity. 
A single finger touched the instrument, as if ac- 
customed to dwell on such places. His other arm 
was extended to its utmost length, and the hand 
grasped the barrel of his long rifle, with something 
like convulsive energy. The act and the attitude 
were both involuntary, and evidently proceeded 
from a feeling much deeper than that of vulgar sur- 
prise. His appearance, connected as it was with 
the rough exterior of his dress, rendered him en- 
tirely distinct from the busy group that were mov- 
ing across the other end of the long hall, occupied 
in receiving the travellers, and exchanging their 


THE PIONEERS. 


81 


welcomes; and Elizabeth, herself as much an ob- 
ject to be looked at by others, continued to gaze 
at him in a kind* of stupid wonder. The contrac- 
tion of the stranger’s brows increased, as his eyes 
moved slowly from one object to another. For 
moments the expression of his countenance was 
fierce, and then again it seemed to pass away in 
some painful emotion. The arm, that was extend- 
ed, bent, and brought the hand nigh to his face, 
when his head dropped upon it, and concealed the 
wonderfully speaking lineaments of his features. 

“We forget, dear sir, the strange gentleman,” 
( for her life Elizabeth could not call him other- 
wise,) “whom we have brought here for assist- 
ance, and to whom we owe every attention.” 

All eyes w^ere instantly turned in the direction 
of those of the speaker, and the youth, rather 
proudly, elevated his head again, while he an- 
swered — 

“ My w^ound is trifling, and I believe that Judge 
Temple sent for a physician the moment w^e ar- 
lived.” 

“ Certainly,” said Marmaduke ; “ I have not for- 
gotten the object of thy visit, young man, nor the 
nature of my debt to thee.” 

“ Oh !” exclaimed Richard, with something of 
a waggish leer, “ thou owest the lad for the veni- 
son, I suppose, that thou killed, cousin ’duke ! Mar 
maduke ! Marmaduke ! That was a marvellous 
tale of thine about the buck ! Here, young man, 
are two dollars for the deer, and Judge Temple 
can do no less than pay the doctor. I shall charge 
you nothing for my services, but you shall not fare 
the worse for that. Come, come, ’duke, don’t be 
down-hearted about it ; if you missed the buck, 
you contrived to shoot this poor fellow through a 


82 


THE PIONEERS. 


pine-tree, Now I own that you have beat me ; 
I never did such a thing in all my life.” 

“ And I hope never will,” returned the Judge. 
“ if you are to experience the uneasiness that 1 
have suffered. But be of good cheer, my young 
friend, the injury must be but small, as thou movest 
thy arm with apparent freedom.” 

‘‘ Don’t make the matter worse, ’duke, by pre- 
tending to talk about surgery,” interrupted Mr. 
Jones, with a contemptuous wave of the hand ; 
“ it is a science that can only be learnt by practice. 
You know that my grandfather was a doctor, but 
you haven’t got a drop of medical blood in your 
veins ; these kind of things run in families. All my 
family by the father’s side had a knack at physic. 
There was my uncle that was killed at Brandy- 
wine, he died twice as easy as any other man in 
the regiment, only from knowing how to do the 
thing as it ought to be done.” 

“ 1 doubt not, Dickon,” returned the Judge 
playfully, after meeting the bright smile, which, in 
spite of himself, stole over the stranger’s features, 
“ that thy family understood the art of letting a life 
slip through their fingers with great facility.” 

Richard heard him quite coolly, and putting a 
hand in either pocket of his surtout, so as to press 
forward the skirts with an air of vast disdain, be- 
gan to whistle a tune ; but the desire to reply over- 
came his philosophy, and with great heat he ex- 
claimed — 

‘‘ You may affect to smile, Judge Temple, at he- 
reditary virtues, if you please ; but there is not a 
man on your Patent who don’t know better. Here, 
even this young man, who has never seen any 
thing but bears, and deers, and wood-chucks, knows 
better than not to believe in virtues being trans 
mitted down in families. Don’t you, friend 


THE PIONEERS. 


83 


‘‘ 1 believe that vice is not,” said the stranger 
abruptly, his eye glancing keenly from the father 
to the daughter. 

“ The Squire is right. Judge,” observed Benja- 
min with a knowing nod of his head towards Ri- 
chard, that bespoke the cordiality between them. 
“ Now, in the old country, the King’s Majesty 
touches for the evil, and that is a disorder that the 
greatest doctor in the fleet, or, for the matter of 
that, admiral either, can’t cure ; only the King’s 
Majesty, or a man that’s been hung. Oh ! yes, the 
Squire is right, for if so be that he wasn’t, how is 
it that the seventh son always is a doctor, whether 
he ships for the cock-pit or not ? Now, when we 
fell in with the mounsheers, under De Grasse, d’ye 
see, we had aboard of us a doctor — ” 

“ Very well, Benjamin,” interrupted Elizabeth, 
glancing her eyes from the hunter to Monsieur Le 
Quoi, who was most politely attending to what fell 
from each individual in succession, “ you shall tell 
me of that, and all your entertaining adventures to- 
gether; just now, a room must be prepared, in 
which the arm of this gentleman can be dressed.” 

“ I will attend to that myself, cousin Elizabeth,” 
observed Richard, somewhat haughtily. ‘‘ The 
young man shall not suffer, because Marmaduke 
chooses to be a little obstinate. Follow me, my 
friend, an,d I will examine the hurt myself.” 

“ It will be well to wait for the physician,” said 
the hunter coldly ; “ he cannot be distant ; I will 
save you the trouble.” 

Richard paused, and looked earnestly at the 
speaker, a little astonished at the language, and a 
good deal appalled at the refusal. He instantly 
construed the latter into an act of hostility, and 
placing his hands in the pockets again, he walked 
up to Mr. Grant, and putting his face close to 


84 


THE PIONEERS. 


the countenance of the divine, he said in an under 
tone — 

‘‘ Now mark my words : there will be a story 
among the settlers, that all our necks would have 
been broken, but for that fellow there — as if I did 
not know how to drive. Why, you might have 
turned the horses yourself, sir ; nothing was ea- 
sier ; it was only pulling hard on the nigh rein, 
and touching the off flank of the leader. I hope, 
my dear sir, you are not at all hurt by the upset 
the lad gave us 

The reply was interrupted by the entrance of 
the village physician. 


CHAPTER VI. 


And about his shelves, 

A beggarly account of empty boxes, 

Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds, 
Remnants of pack-thread, and old cakes of roses, 
Were thinly scattered to make up a show. 

Shakspeare. 


Doctor Elnathan Todd, for such was the un- 
worthy name of the man of physic, was commonly 
thought to be, among the settlers, a gentleman of 
great mental endowments; and he was assuredly 
of rare personal proportions. In height he mea- 
sured, without his shoes, exactly six feet and four 
inches. His hands, feet, and kn6es, corresponded 
in every respect with this formidable stature ; but 
every other part of his frame appeared to have been 
intended for a man several sizes smaller, if we ex- 
cept the length of the limbs. His shoulders were 
square, in one sense at least, being in a right line 
from one side to the other ; but they were so nar- 
row, that the long dangling arms that they sup- 
ported seemed to issue out of his back. His neck 
possessed, in an eminent degree, the property of 
length to which we have alluded, and it was top- 
ped by a small bullet-head, that exhibited, on one 
aide, a bush of bristling brown hair, and on the 
other, a short, twinkling visage, that appeared to 
maintain a constant struggle with itself in order to 
look wise. He was the youngest son of a farmer 

VOL. I. 8 


86 


THE PIONEERS. 


in the western part of Massachusetts, who, being 
in somewhat easy circumstances, had allowed this 
boy to shoot up to the height we have mentioned, 
without the ordinary interruptions of field-labour, 
wood-chopping, and such other toils as were impos- 
ed on his brothers. Elnathan was indebted for this 
exemption from labour, in some measure to his ex- 
traordinary growth, which, leaving him pale, inani- 
mate, and listless, induced his tender mother to 
pronounce him “ a sickly boy, and one that was 
not equal to work, but who might earn a living, 
comfortably enough, by taking to pleading law, or 
turning minister, or doctoring, or some sitch-like 
easy calling.” Still there was a great uncertainty 
which of these vocations the youth was best en- 
dowed to fill with credit and profit ; but, having no 
other employment, the stripling was constantly 
lounging about the “homestead,” munching green 
apples, and hunting for sorrel ; when the same sa- 
gacious eye, that had brought to light his latent 
talents, seized upon this circumstance, as a clue to 
direct his future path through the turmoils of the 
world. “ Elnathan was cut out for a doctor,” she 
knew, “ for he was for ever digging for yarbs, and 
tasting all kinds of things that grow’d about the 
lots. Then again he had a nateral love for doctor- 
stuff, for when she had left the bilious pills out for 
her man, all nicely covered with maple sugar, just 
ready to take, Nathan had come in, and swallow’ed 
them, for all the world as if they were nothing, 
while Ichabod (her husband) could never get one 
down without making sitch desperate faces, that 
it was awful to look on.” 

This discovery decided the matter. Elnathan, 
then about fifteen, w^as, much like a wild colt, caught 
and trimmed, by clipping his bushy locks ; dressed 
in a suit of homespun, died in the butternut bark ; 


THE PIONEERS. 


87 


furnished with a “ New Testament,” and a“ Web- 
ster’s Spelling-Book,” and sent to school. As the 
boy was by nature quite shrewd enough, and had 
previously, at odd times, laid the foundations of 
reading, writing, and arithmetic, he was soon con- 
spicuous in the school for his learning. The de- 
lighted mother had the gratification of hearing, 
from the lips of the master, that her son was a 

prodigious boy, and far above all his class.” He 
also thought that “ the youth had a natural love for 
doctoring, as he had known him frequently advise 
the smaller children against eating too much ; and 
once or twice, when the ignorant little things had 
jiersevered in opposition to Elnathan’s advice, he 
had known her son to empty the school-baskets 
with his own mouth, to prevent the consequences.” 

Soon after this comfortable declaration from his 
schoolmaster, the lad was removed to the house of 
the village doctor, a gentleman whose early career 
had not been unlike that of our hero, where he was 
to be seen, sometimes w’atering a horse, at others 
watering medicines, blue, yellow, and red ; then 
again, he might be noticed, lolling under an apple- 
tree, with Ruddiman’s Latin Grammar in his hand, 
and a corner of Denman’s Midwifery sticking out 
of the pocket of his coat ; — for his instructor held 
it absurd to teach his pupil how to despatch a pa- 
tient regularly from this world, before he knew how 
to bring him into it. 

This kind of life continued for a twelvemonth, 
when he suddenly appeared at meeting in a long 
coat ( and well did it deserve the name ! ) of black 
homespun, with little bootees, bound with unco- 
loured calf-skin, for the want of red morocco. 

Soon after, he was seen shaving with a dull ra- 
zor ; and but three or four months elapsed before 
several elderly ladies were observed hastening to- 


88 THE PIONEERS. 

wards the house of a poor woman in the village, 
while others were running to and fro in great ap- 
parent distress. — One or two boys were mounted, 
bareback, on horses, and sent off at speed in 'vari- 
ous directions. Several indirect questions were 
put concerning where the physician was last ob- 
served ; but all would not do ; and at length Elna 
than was seen issuing from his door, with a very 
grave air, preceded by a little white-headed boy, 
who, out of breath, was trotting before him. The 
following day the youth appeared in the street, as 
the highway was called, and the neighbourhood 
was astonished in observing how much he had 
grown lately. The same week he bought a new 
razor ; and the succeeding Sunday he entered the 
meeting-house with a red silk handkerchief in his 
hand, and with an extremely demure countenance. 
In the evening he called upon a young woman of 
his own class in life, for there were no others to be 
found, and, when he was left alone with the fair, 
he was called, for the first time in his life. Doctor 
Todd, by her prudent mother. The ice once 
broken in this manner, Elnathan was greeted from 
every mouth with his official appellation. 

Another year was passed under the superinten- 
dence of the same master, during which the young 
physician had the credit of riding with the old 
doctor,” although they were generally observed to 
travel different roads. At the end of that period. 
Dr. Todd attained his legal majority. He then 
took a jaunt to Boston, to purchase medicines, and, 
as some intimated, to walk the hospital ; we know 
not how the latter might have been, but if true, he 
soon walked through it, for he returned within a 
fortnight, bringing with him a suspiciously looking 
box, that smelled powerfully of brimstone. 

The next Sunday he was married ; and the fob 


THE PIONEERS. 


89 


lowing morning he entered a one-horse sleigh with 
his bride, having before him the box we have men- 
tioned, with another idled with home-made house- 
hold linen, a paper-covered trunk, with a red um- 
brella lashed to it, a pair^^of quite new saddle-bags, 
and a bandbox. The next intelligence that his 
friends received of the bride and bridegroom was, 
that the latter was “ settled in the new countries, 
and well to do as a doctor, in Templeton, in York 
state.” 

If a Templar would smile at the qualifications of 
Marmaduke to fill the judicial seat that he occupied, 
we are certain that a graduate of Leyden or Edin- 
burgh w ould be extremely amused wdth this true 
narration of the servitude of Elnathan in the tem- 
ple of ^sculapius. But the same consolation was 
afforded to both the jurist and the leech; for Dr. 
Todd was quite as much on a level with his com- 
peers in the profession in that country, as was Mar- 
maduke with his brethren on the bench. 

Time and practice did wonders for the physician. 
He was naturally humane, but possessed no small 
share of moral courage ; or, in other w^ords, he was 
chary of the lives of his patients, and never tried 
uncertain experiments on such members of society 
as were considered useful ; but once or twice, when 
a luckless vagrant had come under his care, he was 
a little addicted to trying the effects of every vial 
in his saddle-bags on the stranger’s constitution. 
Happily their number was small, and in most cases 
their natures innocent. By these means Elnathan 
had acquired a certain degree of knowledge in fe- 
vers and agues, and could talk with much judgment 
concerning intermittents, remittents, tertians, quo- 
tidians, &c. In certain cutaneous disorders, very 
prevalent in new settlements, he was considered 
to be infallible ; and there was no w^oman on the 
8 ^ 


80 


THE PIONEERS. 


Patent, but would as soon think of becoming a 
mother without a husband, as without the assist- 
ance of Dr. Todd. In short, he was rearing, on 
this foundation of sand, a superstructure, cemented 
by practice, though composed of somewhat brittle 
materials. He, however, occasionally renewed his 
elementary studies, and, with the observation of a 
shrewd mind, was applying his practice to his 
theory. 

In surgery, having the least experience, and it 
being a business that spoke directly to the senses, 
he was most apt to distrust his own powers ; but 
he had applied oils to several burns, cut round the 
roots of sundry defective teeth, and sewed up the 
wounds of numberless wood-choppers, with con- 
siderable eclat, when an unfortunate jobber suffer- 
ed a fracture of his leg by the tree that he had 
been felling. It w&s on this occasion that our hero 
encountered the greatest trial that his nerves and 
moral feeling had ever sustained. In the hour of 
need, he was, however, not found wanting. — Most 
of the amputations in the new settlements, and they 
were quite frequent, were performed by some one 
practitioner, who, possessing originally a reputation, 
was enabled by this circumstance to acquire an ex- 
perience that rendered him deserving of it ; and 
Elnathan had been present at one or two of these 
operations. But on the present occasion the man 
of practice was not to be obtained, and the duty 
fell, as a matter of course, to the share of Mr. Todd. 
He went to work with a kind of blind desperation, 
observing, at the same time, all the externals of 
decent gravity and great skill. The sufferer’s name 
was Milligan, and it was to this event that Richard 
alluded, when he spoke of assisting the Doctor, at 
an amputation — by holding the leg ! The limb was 
certainly cut ofi, and the patient survived the ope- 


THE PIOXEERS. 


91 


ration. It was, however, two years before poor 
Milligan ceased to complain that they had buried 
the leg in so narrow a box, that it was straiten- 
ed for room ; he knew this to be true, for he could 
feel the pain shooting up from the inhumed frag- 
ment into his living members. Marmaduke sug- 
gested that the fault might lie in the living arteries 
and nerves ; but Richard, considering the amputa- 
tion as part of his own handy-work, strongly re- 
pelled the insinuation, at the same time declaring, 
that he had often heard of men who could tell when 
it was about to rain, by the toes of amputated limbs. 
After two or three years, notwithstanding that Mil- 
ligan’s complaints gradually diminished, the leg 
was dug up, and a larger box furnished, and from 
that hour no one had heard the sufferer utter an- 
other complaint on the subject. This gave the 
public great confidence in Doctor Todd, whose re- 
putation was hourly increasing, and luckily for his 
patients, his information also. 

Notwithstanding Mr. Todd’s six years’ practice, 
and his success with the leg, he was not a little 
appalled, on entering the hall of the mansion- 
house. It was glaring with the light of day ; it 
looked so splendid and imposing, compared with 
the hastily built and scantily furnished apartments 
which he frequented in his ordinary practice, and 
contained so many well-dressed persons, and anx- 
iously looking-faces, that his usually firm nerves 
were a good deal discomposed. He had heard 
from the messenger who summoned him, that it was 
a gun-shot wound, and had come from his own 
home, wading through the snow, with his saddle- 
bags thrown over his arm, while separated arteries, 
penetrated lungs, and injured vitals, were whirling 
through his brain, as if he were stalking over a 


92 


THE PIONEEES. 


field of battle, instead of Judge Temple’s peacea- 
ble enclosure. 

The first object that met his eye, as he moved 
into the room, was Elizabeth, in her riding-habit, 
richly laced with gold cord, her fine form bending 
towards him, with her face expressing deep anxie- 
ty in every one of its beautiful features. The enor- 
mous bony knees of the physician struck each other 
with a noise that was audible ; for in the absent 
state of his mind, he mistook her for a general oflPi- 
cer, perforated with bullets^, hastening from the 
field of battle to implore his assistance. The de- 
lusion, however, was but momentary, and his eye 
glanced rapidly from the daughter to the earnest 
dignity of the father’s countenance ; thence to the 
busy strut of Richard, who was cooling his impa- 
tience at the hunter’s indifference to his offered 
assistance, by pacing the hall and cracking his whip ; 
from him, to the Frenchman, who had stood for 
several minutes unheeded with a chair for the lady ; 
thence to Major Hartmann, who was very coolly 
lighting a pipe three feet long by a candle in one 
of the chandeliers ; thence to Mr. Grant, who was 
turning over a manuscript with much earnestness 
at one of the lustres ; thence to Remarkable, who 
stood, with her arms demurely folded before her, 
surveying with a look of admiration and envy the 
dress and beauty of the young lady ; and from her 
to Benjamin, who, with his feet standing wide apart, 
and his arms a-kimbo, was balancing his square 
little body, with the indifference of one who was 
accustomed to wounds and bloodshed. All of these 
seemed to be unhurt, and the operator began to 
breathe more freely ; but before he had time to 
take a second look, the Judge, advancing, shook 
him kindly by the hand, and spoke. 


THE PIOK-EERS. 


9S 

“Thou art welcome, my good sir, quite wel- 
come, indeed ; here is a youth, whom I have un- 
fortunately wounded in shooting a deer this evening, 
and who requires some of thy assistance.” 

“ Shooting at a deer, ’duke,” interrupted Ri- 
chard, abruptly — “ Shooting at a deer. Who do you 
think can prescribe, unless he knows the truth of 
the case ? It is always so, with some people ; they 
think a doctor can be deceived, with the same im- 
punity as another man.” 

“ Shooting at a deer truly,” returned the Judge, 
with a smile, “ although it is by no means certain 
that I did not aid in destroying the buck ; but the 
youth is injured by my hand, be that as it may ; 
and it is thy skill, that must cure him, and my 
pocket, that shall amply reward thee for it.” 

“ Two ver good tings to depend on,” observed 
Monsieur Le Quoi, bowing politely, with a sweep 
of his head, to the Judge and the practitioner. 

“ I thank you. Monsieur,” returned the Judge ; 
“ but we keep the young man in pain. Remarka- 
ble, thou wilt please to provide linen for lint and 
bandages.” 

This remark caused a cessation of the compli- 
ments, and induced the physician to turn an inquir- 
ing eye in the direction of his patient. During the 
dialogue the young hunter had thrown aside his 
over-coat, and now stood clad in a plain suit of the 
common, light-coloured, homespun of the country, 
that was evidently but recently made. His hand 
was on the lapels of his coat, in the attitude of re- 
moving the garment, when he suddenly suspended 
the movement, and looked towards the commise- 
rating Elizabeth, who was standing in an unchanged 
posture, too much absorbed with her anxious feel- 
ings to heed his actions. A slight colour appear- 
ed passing over the brow of the youth, as he spoke 


94 


THE PIONEERS. 


“ Possibly the sight of blood may alarm the lady ; 
I will retire to another room, while the wound is 
dressing.” 

“ By no means,” said Dr. Todd, who, having 
discovered that his patient was far from being a 
man of importance, felt wonderfully emboldened to 
perform his duty. — ‘‘ The strong light of these can- 
dles is favourable to the operation, and it is seldom 
that we hard students enjoy good eyesight.” 

While speaking, Elnathan placed a pair of large 
iron-rimmed spectacles on his face, where they 
dropped, as it were by long practice, to the extre- 
mity of his slim, pug nose ; and if they were of no 
service as assistants to his eyes, neither were they 
any impediment to his vision ; for his little, gray 
organs were twinkling above them, like two stars 
emerging from the cover of an envious cloud. The 
action was unheeded by all but Remarkable, w^ho 
observed to Benjamin — 

“ Doctor Todd is a comely man to look on, and 
a disp’ut pretty spoken one too. How well he 
seems in spectacles. I declare, they give a grand 
look to a body’s face. 1 have quite a great mind 
to try them myself.” 

The speech of the stranger recalled the recol- 
lection of Miss Temple, who started, as if from 
deep abstraction, and, colouring excessively, she 
motioned to a young woman, who served in the 
capacity of a maid, and retired, with an air of wo- 
manly reserve. 

The field was now left to the physician and his 
patient, while the different personages who re- 
mained, gathered around the latter, with faces ex- 
pressing the various degrees of interest, that each 
one felt in his condition. Major Hartmann alone re- 
tained his seat, where he continued to throw out 
vast quantities of smoke, now rolling his eyes up 


THE PIONEERS. 


95 


to the ceiling, as if musing on the uncertainty of 
life, and now bending them on the wounded man, 
with an expression that bespoke some conscious- 
ness of his situation. 

In the mean time, Elnathan, to whom the sight 
of a gun-shot wound was a perfect novelty, com- 
menced his preparations, with a solemnity and care 
that were worthy of the occasion. An old shirt 
was procured by Benjamin, and placed in the hands 
of the other, who tore divers bandages from it, 
with an exactitude, that marked both his own skill, 
and the importance of the operation. 

The moment Richard heard the sound that was 
produced by rending the linen, he stepped up to 
the group, with the air of one who well under- 
stood the business in hand. When this preparato- 
ry measure was taken. Dr. Todd selected a piece 
of the shirt with great care, and, handing it to Mr. 
Jones, without moving a muscle, said — 

“ Here, Squire Jones, you are well acquainted 
with these things ; will you please to scrape the 
lint ? It should be fine, and soft, you know, my 
dear sir ; and be cautious that no cotton gets in, 
or it may p’ison the wownd. The shirt has been 
made with cotton thread, but you can easily pick 
it out.” 

Richard assumed the office, with a nod at his 
cousin, that said, quite plainly, ‘‘ You see, this fel- 
low can’t get along without me and began to 
scrape the piece of linen on his knee, with great 
diligence. 

A table was now spread, by the practitioner, 
with vials, boxes of salve, and divers surgical in- 
struments. As the latter appeared, in succession, 
from a case of red morocco, their owner held up 
each implement to the strong light of the chande- 
lier, near to which he stood, and examined it, with 


96 


THE PIONEERS. 


the nicest care and precision. A red silk handker- 
chief was frequently applied to the glittering steel, 
as if to remove from the polished surfaces, the 
least impediment, which might exist, to the most 
delicate operation. After the rather scantily fur- 
nished pocket-case, which contained these instru- 
ments, was exhausted, the physician turned to his 
saddle-bags, and produced various vials, filled with 
liquids, of the most radiant colours. These were 
arranged, in due order, by the side of the murder- 
ous saws, knives, and scissors, when Elnathan 
stretched his long body to its utmost elevation, 
placing his hand on the small of his back, as if for 
support, and looked about him to discover what ef- 
fect this display of his professional skill was likely 
to produce on the spectators. 

“ Upon my wort, toctor,” observed Major Hart- 
mann, with a roguish roll of his little black eyes, 
but with every other feature of his face in a state 
of perfect rest, “put you have a very pretty pock- 
et-pook of tools tere, and your toctor-stuff glitters, 
as if it was petter for ter eyes as for ter pelly.” 

Elnathan gave a somewhat equivocal hem, be- 
fore he replied — one that might have been equally 
taken for that kind of noise which cowards are 
said to make, in order to awaken their dormant 
courage, or for a natural effort to clear the throat : 
if for the latter, it was successful ; fos, turning his 
face to the veteran German, he said — 

“Very true. Major Hartmann, very true, sir*, 
a prudent man will always strive to make his reme- 
dies agreeable to the eyes, though they may not 
altogether suit the stomach. It is no small part of 
our art, sir,” and he now spake with the confidence 
of a man who understood his subject, “ to recon- 
cile the patient to what is for his own good, though, 
at the same time, it may be unpalatable.” 


THE PIONEERS. 


97 


“ Sartain ! Doctor Todd is right,” said Remark- 
able, “ and has Scripter for what he says. The 
Bible tells us, how things mought be sweet to the 
mouth, and bitter to the inwards.” 

“ True, true,” interrupted the Judge, a little im- 
patiently ; “ but here is a youth who needs no de- 
ception to lure him to his own benefit. I see, by 
his eye, that he fears nothing more than delay.” 

The stranger had, without assistance, bared his 
own shoulder, when the slight perforation, produc- 
ed by the passage of the buck-shot, was plainly 
visible. The intense cold of the evening had 
stopped the bleeding, and Dr. Todd, casting a fur- 
tive glance at the wound, thought it by no means 
so formidable an affair as he had anticipated. Thus 
encouraged, he approaches his patient, and made 
some indication of an intention to trace the route 
that had been taken by the lead. 

Remarkable often found occasions, in after days, 
to recount the minutiae of that celebrated opera- 
tion : and when she arrived at this point, she com- 
monly proceeded as follows : — “ And then the 
Doctor tuck out of the pocket-book a long thing, 
like a knitting-needle, with a button fastened to the 
end on’t ; and then he pushed it into the wownd ; 
and then the young man looked awful ; and then 
I thought I should have swaned away — I felt in 
sitch a disp’ut taking ; and then the Doctor had 
run it right through his shoulder, and shoved the 
bullet out on t’other side ; and so Doctor Todd 
cured the young man — of a ball that the Judge had 
shot into him, for all the world, as easy as I could 
pick out a splinter, with my darning-needle.” 

Such were the impressions of Remarkable on 
the subject ; and such, doubtless, were the opi- 
nions of most of those, who felt it necessary to enter- 
VOL. I. 9 * 


98 


THE PIONEERS. 


tain a species of religious veneration for the abilities 
and skill of Elnathan ; but such was far from the truth. 

When the physician attempted to introduce the 
instrument described by Remarkable, he was re- 
pulsed by the stranger, with a good deal of deci- 
sion, and some little contempt, in his manner. 

‘‘I believe, sir,” he said, “that a probe is not 
necessary ; the shot has missed the bone, and has 
passed directly through the arm to the opposite 
side, where it remains but skin-deep, and whence, 
J should think, it might be easily extracted.” 

“ The gentleman knows best,” said Dr. Todd, 
laying down the probe, with the air of a man w^ho 
had assumed it merely in compliance with forms ; 
and turning to Richard, he fingered the lint, with 
the appearance of great care and foresight. “ Ad- 
mirably well scraped, squire Jones ! it is about the 
best lint I have ever seen. I want your assistance, 
my good sir, to hold the patient’s arm, while I make 
an incision for the ball. Now, I rather guess, there 
is not another gentleman present who could scrape 
the lint so well as squire Jones.” 

“ Such things run in families,” observed Ri- 
chard, rising with alacrity to render the desired as- 
sistance. “ My father, and my grandfather before 
him, were both celebrated for their knowledge of 
surgery; they were not, like Marmaduke here, 
puffed up with an accidental thing, such as the time 
when he drew in the hip-joint of the man who was 
thrown from his horse : that was the fall before you 
came into the settlement. Doctor ; but they w^ere 
men who were taught the thing regularly, spend- 
ing half their lives in learning those little niceties ; 
though, for the matter of that, my grandfather was 
a college-bred physician, and the best in the colo- 
ny, too — that is, in his neighbourhood.” 


THE PIONEERS. 


99 


“ So it goes with the world, Squire,” cried Ben- 
jamin, “4f-so-be that a man wants to walk the 
quarter-deck with credit, d’ye see, and with regu- 
lar built swabs on his shoulders, he mus’nt think 
to do it, by getting in at the cabin-windows. There 
are two ways to get into a top, besides the lubber- 
holes. The true way to walk aft, is to begin for- 
rard ; tho’f it be only in an humble way, like my- 
self, d’ye see, which was, from being only a hander 
of top-gallant-sails, and a slower of the flying-jib, 
to keeping the key of the Captain’s locker.” . 

“ Benjamin speaks quite to the purpose,” con- 
tinued Richard, with a benevolent smile, directed 
to the Doctor. “ I dare say, that he has often seen 
shot extracted, in the diflerent ships in which he 
has served ; suppose we get him to hold the basin ; 
he must be used to the sight of blood.” 

“ That he is. Squire, that he is,” interrupted the 
ci-devant steward : “many’s the good shot, round, 
double-headed, and grape, that I’ve seen the doc- 
tors at work on. For the matter of that, I was in 
a boat, alongside the ship, when they cut out the 
twelve-pound shot from the thigh of the Captain 
of the Foody-rong, one of Mounsheer Ler Quaw’s 
countrymen, there !” 

“ A twelve-pound ball from the thigh of a human 
being !” exclaimed Mr. Grant, with great simplici- 
ty, dropping the sermon he was again reading, and 
raising his spectacles, from before his eyes, to the 
top of his forehead. 

“A twelve-pounder !” echoed Benjamin staring 
around him, with much confidence ; “ a twelve- 
pounder ! ay ! a twenty-four pound shot can easily 
be taken from a man’s body, if-so-be a doctor only 
knows hoAV. There’s Squire Jones, now, ask him, 
sir; he reads all the books; ask him, if he never 


100 


THE PIONEERS. 


fell in with a page that keeps the reckoning of 
such things.” 

“ Certainly, more important operations than that 
have been performed,” observed Richard ; “ the 
Encyclopaedia mentions much more incredible cir- 
cumstances than that, as, I dare say, you know. 
Doctor Todd.” 

“ Certainly, there are incredible tales told of 
such matters,” returned Elnathan, “ though I can- 
not say, that I have ever seen, myself, any thing 
larger than a musket-bullet extracted.” 

During this discourse, an incision had been made 
through the skin of the young hunter’s shoulder, 
and the lead was laid bare. Elnathan now took 
into his hand, with a solemn air, a pair of glittering 
forceps, and was in the act of applying them to the 
wound, when a sudden motion of the patient caused 
the shot to fall out of itself. The long arm and 
broad hand of the operator were now of singular 
service ; for the latter expanded itself, and caught 
the lead, while at the same time, an extremely am- 
biguous motion was made, by its brother, so as to 
leave it doubtful to the spectator, how great was 
its agency in releasing the shot. Richard, how- 
ever, put the matter at rest, by exclaiming — 

“ Very neatly done. Doctor ! I have never seen 
a shot more neatly extracted ; and, I dare say, 
Benjamin will say the same.” 

“ Why, considering,” returned Benjamin, “ I 
must say, that it was ship-shape, and Brister- 
fashion. — Now all that the Doctor has to do, is to 
clap a couple of plugs in the shot holes, and the 
lad will float in any gale, that blows in these here 
hills.” 

“ I thank you, sir, for what you have done,” 
said the youth, with a little distance : But here 


THE PIONEERS. 


101 


is a man, who will take me under his care, and 
spare you all, gentlemen, any further trouble on 
my account.” 

The whole group turned their heads in surprise, 
and beheld, standing at one of the distant doors of 
the hall, the person of Indian John. 


CHAPTER VII. 


From Suiquehanna'a utmost spring!, 
Where savage tribes pursue their game, 
His blanket tied with yellow strings, 
The shepherd of the forest came.. 

Freneau. 


Before the Europeans, or, to use a more signi- 
ficant term, the Christians, dispossessed the ori- 
ginal owners of the soil, all that section of country, 
which contains the New-England States, and those 
of the Middle, which lie east of the mountains, was 
occupied by two great nations of Indians, from 
whom numberless tribes had descended. But, as 
the original distinctions between these nations were 
marked by a difference in language, as well as by 
repeated and bloody wars, they never were known 
to amalgamate, until after the power and inroads 
of the whites had reduced some of the tribes to a 
state of dependence, that rendered not only their 
political, but, considering the wants and habits of 
a savage, their animal existence also, extremely 
precarious. 

These two great divisions consisted, on the one 
side, of the Five, or, as they were afterward call- 
ed, the Six Nations, and their allies; and, on the 
other, of the Lenni Lenape, or Delawares, with 
the numerous and powerful tribes, that owned that 
nation as their Grandfather. The former were 


THE PIONEERS. 


lO-S 


generally called, by the Anglo-Americans, Iroquois, 
or the Six Nations, and sometimes Mingoes. Their 
appellation, among their rivals, «eems generally to 
have been the Mengwe, or Maqua. They consist- 
ed of the tribes, or, as their allies were fond of 
asserting, in order to raise their consequence, of 
the several nations of the Mohawks, the Oneidas, 
the Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas ; who rank- 
ed, in the confederation, in the order with which 
they are named. The Tuscaroras were admittea 
to this union, near a century after its formation, 
and thus completed the number to six. 

Of the Lenni Lenape, or as they were called by 
the whites, from the circumstance of their holding 
their great council-fire on the banks of that river, 
the Delaware nation, the principal tribes, besides 
that which bore the generic name, were, the Ma- 
hicanni, Mohicans or Mohegans, and the Nanti- 
cokes, or Nentigoes. Of these, the latter held the 
country along the waters of the Chesapeake and 
the sea-shore ; while the Mohegans occupied the 
district between the Hudson and the ocean, in- 
cluding most of New-England. Of course, these 
two tribes were the first who were dispossessed 
of their lands by the Europeans. 

The wars of a portion of the latter are celebrat- 
ed among us, as the wars of King Philip ; but the 
peaceful policy of William Penn, or Miquon, as he 
was termed by the natives, effected its object with 
less difficulty, though not with less certainty. As 
the natives gradually disappeared from the country 
of the Mohegans, some scattering families sought 
a refuge around the council-fire of the mother tribe, 
or the Delawares. 

This people had been induced to suffer them- 
selves to be called women, by their old enemies, 
the Mingoes, or Iroquois, after the latter, having 


104 


THE PIOJfEERS. 


in vain tried the effects of hostility , had recourse to 
artifice, in order to circumvent their rivals. Ac- 
cording to this declaration, the Delawares were to 
cultivate the arts of peace, and to intrust their de- 
fence entirely to the mm, or warlike tribes of the 
Six nations. 

This state of things continued until the war of 
the revolution, when the Lenni Lenape formally 
asserted their independence, and fearlessly declar- 
ed, that they were again men. But in a govern- 
ment so peculiarly republican as the Indian polity, 
it was not, at all times, an easy task to restrain 
their members within the rules of their nation. 
Several fierce and renowned warriors of the Mo- 
hegans, finding the conflict with the whites to be 
in vain, sought a refuge with their Grandfather, 
and brought with them the feelings and principles 
that had so long distinguished them in their own 
tribe. These chieftains kept alive, in some mea- 
sure, the martial spirit of the Delawares; and 
would, at times, lead small parties against their an- 
cient enemies, or such other foes as incurred their 
resentment. 

Among these warriors was one race particularly 
famous for their prowess, and for those qualities 
that render an Indian hero celebrated. But time, 
disease, and want, had conspired to thin their num- 
ber ; and the sole representative of this once re- 
nowned family now stood in the hall of Marmaduke 
Temple. He had, for a long time, been an asso- 
ciate of the white men, particularly in their wars; 
and, having been, at a season when his services 
were of importance, much noticed and flattered, 
he had turned Christian, and was baptized by the 
name of John. He had suffered severely in his 
family during the recent war, having had every soul 
to whom he was allied cut olf by an inroad of the 


THE PIONEERS. 


105 


enemy ; and when the last, lingering remnant of 
his nation extinguished their fires, among the hills 
of the Delaware, he alone had remained, with a de- 
termination of laying his bones in that country, 
where his fathers had so long lived and governed. 

It was only, however, within a few months, that 
he had appeared among the mountains that sur- 
rounded Templeton. To the hut of the old hunt- 
er he seemed peculiarly welcome ; and, as the 
habits of the “ Leather- Stocking” were so nearly 
assimilated to those of the savages, the conjunction 
of their interests excited no surprise. They re- 
sided in the same cabin, ate of the same food, and 
were chiefly occupied in the same pursuits. 

We have already mentioned the baptismal name 
of this ancient chief ; but in his conversation with 
Natty, held in the language of the Delawares, he 
was heard uniformly to call himself Chingachgook, 
which, interpreted, means the “ Great Snake.” 
This was a name that he had attained in his youth, 
by his skill and prow^ess in the art of w^ar ; but 
when his brows began to wrinkle with time, and 
he stood alone, the last of his family, and his par- 
ticular tribe, the few Delawares, who yet continu- 
ed about the head-waters oL their river, gave him 
the expressive appellation of Mohegan. Perhaps 
there w'as something of deep feeling excited in the 
bosom of this inhabitant of the forest by the sound 
of a name that recalled the idea of his nation in 
ruins, for he seldom used it himself — never indeed, 
excepting on the most solemn occasions ; but the 
settlers had united, according to the Christian cus- 
tom, his baptismal with his national name, and to 
them he was generally known as John Mohegan, 
or, more familiarly, as Indian John. 

From his long association with the white men, 
the habits of Mohegan were a mixture of the civil- 


106 


THE PIONEERS. 


ized and savage states, though there was certainly 
a strong preponderance in favour of the latter. In 
common with all his people, who dwelt within the 
influence of the Anglo-Americans, he had acquired 
new wants, and his dress was a mixture of his na- 
tive fashions with European manufactures. Not- 
withstanding the intense cold of the atmosphere 
without, his head was uncovered ; hut a profusion 
of long, black, coarse hair, concealed his forehead , 
his crown, and even hung about his cheeks, so as 
to convey the idea, to one who knew his present 
and former conditions, that he encouraged its abun- 
dance, as a willing veil, to hide the shame of a no- 
ble soul, mourning for a glory that it had once 
known. His forehead, when it could be seen, ap- 
peared lofty, broad, and noble. His nose was high, 
and of the kind called Roman, vidth nostrils that 
expanded, in his seventieth year, with the air of 
freedom that had distinguished them when a youth. 
His mouth was large, but compressed, and possess- 
ing a great share of expression and character, and, 
when opened, discovered a perfect set of short, 
strong, and regular teeth. His chin was full, though 
not prominent ; and his face bore the infallible mark 
of his people, in its square, high cheek-bones. The 
eyes were not large, but their black orbs glittered 
in the rays of the candles, as he ^azed intently 
down the hall, like two balls of fire. 

The instant that Mohegan observed himself to 
be noticed by the group around the young stran- 
ger, he dropped the blanket, which covered the 
upper part of his frame, from his shoulders, suffer- 
ing it to fall over his leggins, of untanned deer-skin, 
where it was retained by a belt of bark, that con- 
fined it to his waist, and moved forward. 

As he walked slowly down the long hall, the un- 
usually dignified and deliberate tread of the Indian 


THE PIONEERS. 


lOT 


surprised the spectators. His shoulders, and body 
to his waist, were entirely bare, with the excep- 
tion of a silver medallion of Washington, that was 
suspended from his neck by a thong of buck-skin, 
and rested on his high chest, amidst the scars of 
many wounds. His shoulders were rather broad 
and full ; but the arms, though straight and grace- 
ful, wanted the muscular appearance that labour 
alone can give to a race of men. The medallion 
V. as the only ornament he wore, although enormous 
slits in the rim of either ear, which suffered the 
cartilages to fall for two inches below the members, 
were evidently used for the purposes of decoration, 
in other days. In his hand he held a small basket, 
of the ash- wood slips, coloured in divers fantastical 
conceits, wdth red and black paints mingled with 
the white of the wood. 

As this child of the forest approached them, the 
whole party stood aside, and allowed him to con- 
front the evident object of his visit. He did not 
speak, however, but stood, fixing his glowing eyes 
on the shoulder of the young hunter, and then 
turning them intently on the countenance of the 
Judge. The latter was a good deal astonished at 
this unusual departure from the ordinarily subdued 
and quiet manner of the Indian ; but soon recover- 
ing himself, he extended his hand, and said — 

“Thou art welcome, John. This youth enter- 
tains a high opinion of thy skill, it seems, for he 
prefers thee to dress his wound even to our good 
friend Dr. Todd.” 

Mohegan now spoke, in tolerable English, but 
in a low, monotonous, guttural tone : — 

“ The children of Miquon do not love the sight 
of blood ; and yet, the young eagle has been struck 
by the hand that should do no evil !” 

“ Mohegan! old John!” exclaimed the Judge, in 


108 


THE PIONEERS. 


horror, and turning his fine, manly, open counte- 
nance to the other; “thinkest thou, that my hand 
has ever drawnhuman blood willingly ? For shame ! 
for shame, old John ! thy religion should have 
taught thee better.” 

“The evil spirit sometimes lives in the best 
heart,” returned John, impressively, as he tried 
to study the countenance of the Judge; “but my 
brother speaks the truth; his hand has never taken 
life, when awake ; no ! not even when the chil- 
dren of the great English Father were making the 
waters red with the blood of his people.” 

“ Surely, John,” said Mr. Grant, with much 
earnestness, “ you remember the divine command 
of our Saviour, ‘judge not, lest ye be judged.’ 
What motive could Judge Temple have for injur- 
ing a youth like this ; one to whom he is unknown, 
and from whom he can receive neither injury nor 
favour !” 

John listened respectfully to the divine, and when 
he had -concluded, the Indian stretched out his 
arm, and said with energy — 

“ He is innocent — my brother has not done this 
wrong.” 

Marraaduke received the offered hand of the 
other with a benevolent smile, that showed, how- 
ever he might be astonished at his suspicion, he 
had ceased to resent it ; while the wounded youth 
stood, gazing from his red friend to his host, with 
an expression of scornful pity powerfully delineat- 
ed in his countenance. No sooner was this act of 
pacification exchanged, than John proceeded to dis- 
charge the duty, to perform which he had come. 
Dr. Todd was far from manifesting any displeasure 
at this invasion of his rights, but made way for the 
new leech, wdth an air that expressed a willingness 
to gratify the humours of his patient, now that the 


THE PIONEERS. 


109 


all-important part of the business was so success- 
fully performed, and nothing remained to be done, 
but what any child might effect. Indeed, he whis- 
pered as much to Monsieur Le Quoi, when he 
said — 

“ It was fortunate that the ball was extracted 
before this Indian came in; but any old woman 
can dress the wound now. The young man, I hear, 
lives with John and Natty Bumppo, and it’s al- 
ways best to humour a patient, when it can be done 
discreetly — I say, discreetly. Monsieur.” 

“ Certainement,” returned the Frenchman ; 
“ you seem ver happy, Mister Todd, in your prac- 
teece. I should tink de elderly lady might ver 
well finish, vat you so skeelfully begin.” 

But Richard had, at the bottom, a great deal of 
veneration for the knowledge of Mohegan, espe- 
cially in external wounds ; and retaining all his de- 
sire for a participation in glory, he advanced nigh 
to the Indian, and said — 

“ Sago, sago, Mohegan ! sago, my good fellow ! 
I am right glad you have come ; give me a regular 
physician, like Dr. Todd, to cut into flesh, and a 
native to heal the wound. Do you remember, John, 
the time when I and you set the bone of Natty Bump- 
po’s little finger, after he broke it by falling from 
the rock, when he was trying to get the partridge 
down, that fell on the cliffs. I never could tell 
yet, whether it was I or Natty, who killed that 
bird : he fired first, and the bird stooped, but then 
it was rising again, just as I pulled trigger. I should 
have claimed it, for a certainty, but Natty said the 
hole was too big for shot, and he fired a single ball 
from his rifle ; but the piece I carried then didn’t 
scatter, and I have known it to bore a hole through 
a board, when I’ve been shooting at the mark, 
very much like rifle-bullets. Shall I help you, 

TOL. T. 10 


no 


THE PIONEERS. 


John ? You know that I have a knack at these 
things.” 

Mohegan heard this disquisition quite patiently, 
and when Richard concluded, he held out the bas- 
ket, which contained his specifics, indicating, by a 
gesture, that he might hold it. Mr. Jones was 
quite satisfied with this commission ; and, ever af- 
ter, in speaking of the event, was used to say, that 
“ Doctor Todd and I cut out the bullet, and I and 
Indian John dressed the wound.” 

The patient was much more deserving of that 
epithet, while under the hands of Mohegan, than 
while suffering under the practice of the true phy- 
sician. Indeed, the Indian gave him but little op- 
portunity for the exercise of a forbearing temper, 
as he had come prepared for the occasion. His 
dressings were soon applied, and consisted only of 
some pounded bark, moistened with a fluid that he 
had expressed from some of the simples of the 
woods. 

Among the native tribes of the forest, there were 
always two kinds of leeches to be met with. The 
one placed its whole dependence on the exercise 
of a supernatural power, and was held in greater 
veneration than their practice could at all justify ; 
but the other was really endowed with great skill, 
in the ordinary complaints of the human body, and 
was, more particularly, as Natty had intimated, 
“ curous in cuts and bruises.” 

While John and Richard were placing the dress- 
ings on the wound, Elnathan was acutely eyeing 
the contents of Mohegan’s basket, which Mr. Jones, 
in his physical ardour, had transferred to the Doc- 
tor, in order to hold, himself, one end of the ban- 
dages. Here he was soon enabled to detect sundry 
fragments of wood and bark, of which he, quite 
coolly, took possession, very possibly without any 


THE PIONEERS. 


Ill 


intention of speaking at all upon the subject; but 
when he beheld the full, blue eye of Marmaduke, 
watching his movements, he whispered to the 
Judge — 

“ It is not to be denied. Judge Temple, but what 
the savages are knowing, in small matters of phy- 
sic. They hand these things down in their tradi- 
tions. Now in cancers and hydrophoby, they are 
quite ingenious. I will just take this bark home, 
and analyze it ; for, though it can’t be worth six- 
pence to the young man’s shoulder, it may be good 
for the toothach, or rheumatis, or some of them 
complaints. A man should never be above learn- 
ing, even if it be from an Indian.” 

It was fortunate for Dr. Todd, that his princi- 
ples were so liberal, as, coupled with his practice, 
they were the means by which he acquired all his 
knowledge, and by which he was gradually quali- 
fying hiniself for the duties of his profession. The 
process to which he subjected the specific, differed, 
however, greatly from the ordinary rules of chy- 
mistry ; for, instead of separating, he afterward unit- 
ed the component parts of Mohegan’s remedy, and 
thus was able to discover the tree whence the In- 
dian had taken it. 

Some ten years after this event, when civiliza- 
tion and its refinements had crept, or rather rush- 
ed, into the settlements among these wild hills, an 
affair of honour occurred, and Elnathan was seen 
to apply a salve to the wound that was received by 
one of the parties, which had the flavour that was 
peculiar to the tree, or root, that Mohegan had 
used. Ten years later still, when England and 
the United States were again engaged in war, and 
the hordes of the western parts of the state of 
New- York were rushing to the field, Elnathan, 
presuming on the reputation obtained by these two 


112 


THE PIONEERS. 


operations, followed in the rear of a brigade of 
militia, as its surgeon ! 

When Mohegan had applied the bark, he freely 
relinquished to Richard the needle and thread, that 
were used in sewing the bandages, for these were 
implements of which the native but little under- 
stood the use; and, stepping back, with decent 
gravity, awaited the completion of the business by 
the other. 

‘‘ Reach me the scissors,” said Mr. Jones, when 
he had finished, and finished for the second time, 
after tying the linen in every shape and form that 
it could be placed ; “ reach me the scissors, for 
here is a thread that must be cut oif, or it might 
get under the dressings, and inflame the wound. 
See, John, I have put the lint I scraped, between 
two layers of the linen ; for though the bark is cer - 
tainly best for the flesh, yet the lint will serve to 
keep the cold air from the wound. If any lint will 
do it good, it is this lint ; for I scraped it myself, 
and I will not turn my back, at scraping lint, to any 
man on the Patent. But I ought to know how% 
if any body ought, for my grandfather was a doctor, 
and my father had a natural turn that way.” 

“ Here, Squire, is the scissors,” said Remarka- 
ble, producing from beneath her petticoat of green 
moreen, a pair of dull-looking shears ; “ well, upon 
my say so, you have sewed on the rags as well as 
a woman.” 

“ As well as a woman,” echoed Richard, with 
indignation ; ‘‘ what do women know of such mat- 
ters ? and you are proof of the truth of what I say. 
Who ever saw such a pair of shears used about a 
wound ? Dr. Todd, I will thank you for the scis- 
sors from the case. Now, young man, I think 
you’ll do. The shot has been very neatly taken 
out, although, perhaps, seeing I had a hand in it, I 


THE PIONEERS. 


113 


ought not to say so ; and the wound is most admi- 
rably dressed. You will soon be well again; 
though the jerk you gave my leaders must have a 
tendency to inflame the shoulder, yet, you will do, 
you will do. You were rather flurried, I suppose, 
and not used to horses ; but I forgive, the accident, 
for the motive : — no doubt, you had the best of 
motives ; — yes, yes, now you will do.” 

“ Then, gentlemen,” said the wounded stranger, 
rising, and resuming his clothes, “ it will be unne- 
cessary for me to trespass longer on your time 
and patience. There remains but one thing more 
to be settled, and that is, our respective rights to 
the deer. Judge Temple,” 

I acknowledge it to be thine,” said Marma- 
duke ; “ and much more deeply am I indebted to 
thee, than for this piece of venison. But in the 
morning thou wilt call here, and we can adjust 
this, as well as more important matters. Eliza- 
beth,” — for the young lady being apprised that 
the wound was dressed, had re-entered the hall, — 
“ thou wilt order a repast for this youth before 
w^e proceed to the church ; and Aggy will have a 
sleigh prepared, to convey him to his friend,” 

“ But, sir, I cannot go without a part of the 
deer,” returned the youth, seemingly struggling 
with his own feelings ; “ I have already told you, 
that I needed the venison for myself.” 

“ Oh ! we will not be particular,” exclaimed Ri- 
chard ; “ the Judge will pay you, in the morning, 
for the whole deer ; and, Remarkable, give the 
lad all the animal excepting the saddle ; so, on the 
whole, I think, you may consider yourself as a 
very lucky young man ; — you have been shot, 
without being disabled ; have had the wound dress- 
ed in the best possible manner, here in the woods, 
as well as it would have been done in the Phila- 
10 * 


1!4 


THE PI0J:E£RS. 


delphia hospital, if not better ; have sold your deer 
at a high price, and yet can keep most ’of the car- 
cass, with the skin in the bargain. ’Marky, tell 
Tom to give him the skin too ; and in the morning, 
bring the skin to me, and I will give you half-a- 
dMlar for it, or at least, three-and-six-pence. I 
want just such a skin to cover the pillion that I 
am making for cousin Bess.”^‘ 

“ I thank you, sir, for your liberality, and, I 
trust, am also thankful for bay escape,” returned 
the stranger ; “ but you reserve the very part of 
the animal that I wished for my own use. I must 
have the saddle myself.” 

“Must !” echoed Richard; “ must is harder to 
be swallowed than the horns of the buck.” 

“ Yes, must,” repeated the youth : when, turn- 
ing his head proudly around him, as if to see~who 
would dare to controvert his rights, he met the as- 
tonished gaze of Elizabeth, and proceeded more 
mildly-”“ that is, if a man is allow^ed the posses- 
sion of that which his hand hath killed, and the 
law will protect him in the enjoyment of his own.” 

“ The law will do so,” said Judge Temple, with 
an air of mortification, mingled with surprise. 
Benjamin, see that the whole deer is placed in the 
sleigh ; and have this youth conveyed to the hut 
of Leather-stocking. But, young man, thou hast 
a name, and I shall see you again, in order to com- 
pensate thee for the wrong I have done thee ?” 

“ I am called Edwards,” returned the hunter, 
•“ Oliver Edwards. I am easily to be seen, sir, for 
I live nigh by, and am not afraid to show my 
face, having never injured any man.” 

“ It is we who have injured you, sir,” said 
’'Elizabeth ; and the knowledge that you decline 
our assistance would give my father great pain. 
He would gladly see you in the morning.” 


THE PIOKEEP^S. 


115 


The young hunter gazed at the fair speaker, 
until his earnest look brought the blood to her very 
temples ; when, recollecting himself, he bent his 
head, dropping his eyes to the carpet, and re- 
plied — > : 

“ In the morning, then, will I return, and see 
Judge Temple ; and I will accept his ofer of the 
sleigh, in token of our amity.” 

“ Amity !” repeated Marmaduke ; “ there was 
no malice in the act that injured thee, young man ; 
there should be none in the feelings which it may 
engender.” 

“ Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those 
who trespass against us,” observed Mr. Grant, “is 
the language of prayer, used by our Divine Master 
himself, and it should be the golden rule of us, his 
humble followers.” v 

The stranger stood a moment, lost in thought, 
and then glancing his dark eyes, rather wildly, 
around the hall, he bowed low to the divine,, and 
moved from the apartment, with an air that would 
not admit of detention. • 

“ ’Tis strange that one so young should harbour 
such feelings of resentment,” said Marmaduke, 
when the door closed behind the stranger; “but 
while the pain is recent, and the sense of the inju- 
ry is so fresh, he must feel more strongly than in 
his cooler moments, I doubt not, we shall see 
him, in the morning more tractable.” 

Elizabeth, to whom this speech was addressed, 
did not reply, but moved slowly up the hall, by 
herself, fixing her eyes on the little figure of the 
English ingrained carpet, that covered the floor ; 
while, on the other hand, Richard gave a loud 
crack with his whip, as the stranger disappeared, 
and-cried^ >, - . , ; . 

“ Well, ’duke, you are yoiir own master, but I 


116 


THE PIONEERS. 


would have tried law for the saddle, before I would 
have given it to the fellow. Do you not own the 
mountains, as well as the valleys ? are not the 
w'oods your own.^ what right has this chap, or the 
Leather-stocking, to shoot in your woods, without 
your permission ? Now, I have known a farmer, 
in Pennsylvania, order a sportsman off his farm, 
with as little ceremony as I would order Benjamin 
to put a log in the stove. By the by, Benjamin, 
see how the thermometer stands. Now, if a man 
has a right to do this on a farm of a hundred acres, 
what power must a landlord have, who owms sixty 
thousand — ay ! for the matter of that, including the 
late purchases, a hundred thousand ? There is 
Mohegan, to be sure, he may have some right, be- 
ing a native ; but it’s little the poor fellow can do 
now wdth his rifle. How is this managed in France, 
Monsieur Le Quoi ? do you let every body run 
over your land, in that country, helter-skelter, as 
they do here, shooting the game, so that a gentle- 
man has but little or no chance with his gun ?” 

“ Bah ! diable, no, Meester Deeck;” replied the 
Frenchman ; “ we give, in France, no liberty, ex- 
cept to de ladi.” 

‘‘Yes, yes, to the women, I know,” said Ri- 
chard ; “ that is your Salick hw. I read, sir, all 
kinds of books ; of France, as w^ell as England ; of 
Greece, as well as Rome, But if I were in ’duke’s 
place, I w^ould stick up advertisements to-morrow 
morning, forbiding all persons to shoot, or trespass, 
in any manner, on my woods. I could write such 
an advertisement myself, in an hour, as would put 
a stop to the thing at once.” 

“ Richart,” said Major Hartmann, very coolly, 
knocking the ashes from his pipe into the spitting- 
box, by his side, “ now listen ; I have livet seven- 
ty-five years on ter Mohawk, and in ter woots. — 


THE PIONEERS. 


lit 


You hat petter mettle as mit ter deyvel, as mit ter 
hunters. Tey live mit ter gun, and a rifle is pet- 
ter as ter law.” 

“A’nt Marmaduke a Judge?” said Richard, in- 
dignantly. “ Where is the use of being a Judge, 
or having a Judge, if there is no law ? Damn the 
fellow ! I have a great mind to sue him in the 
morning myself, before Squire Doolittle, for med- 
dling with my leaders. I am not afraid of his rifle 
1 can shoot too. I have hit a dollar, many a time, 
at fifty rods.” 

“ Thou hast missed more dollars than ever thou 
hast hit, Dickon,” exclaimed the cheerful voice of 
the Judge again. — “ But we will now take our 
evening’s repast, which, I perceive by Remarka- 
ble’s physiognomy, is in the next room. Monsieur 
Le Quoi, Miss Temple has a fair hand at your ser- 
vice. Will you lead the way, my child ?” 

“ Ah ! ma chere Mam’selle, but too happy to do 
so,” said th-e polite Frenchman, while he offered 
his hand ; ‘‘ it is de consolashong, in my baneesh 
to meet a smile from de fair ladi.” 

Mr. Grant and Mohegan continued in the hall, 
while the remainder of the party withdrew to an 
eating parlour, if we except Benjamin, who civilly 
remained, to close the rear after the divine, and to 
open the front door for the exit of the Indian. 

“ John,” said the divine, when the figure of 
Judge Temple disappeared, the last of the group, 
“ to-morrow is the festival of the nativity of our 
blessed Redeemer, when the church has appointed 
prayers and thanksgivings, to be offered up by her 
children, and when all are invited to partake of 
the mystical elements. As you have taken up the 
cross, and become a follower of good, and an es- 
chewer of evil, John, I trust I shall see you before 
the altar, with a contrite heart and a meek spirit.” 


118 


THE PIONEERS. 


“ John will come,” said the Indian, betraying no 
surprise; though he did not understand all the 
terms used by the other. 

“ Yes,” continued Mr. Grant, laying his hand 
gently on the tawny shoulder of the aged chief, 
“ but it is not enough to be there in the body only ; 
you must come in the spirit, and in truth. The 
Redeemer died for all, for the poor Indian, as well 
as for the white man. Heaven knows no differ- 
ence in colour ; nor must earth witness a separa- 
tion of the church. It is good and profitable, John, 
to freshen the understanding, and support the wa- 
vering, by the observance of our holy festivals ; 
but all form is but stench in the nostrils of the Holy 
One, unless it be accompanied by a devout and 
humble spirit.” 

The Indian stepped back a little, and, raising 
his body to its utmost powers of erection, he 
stretched his right arm on high, and dropped his 
fore-finger downward, as if pointing from the hea- 
vens, and striking his other hand on his naked 
breast, he said, with energy — 

The eye of the Great Spirit can see from the 
clouds ; — the bosom of Mohegan is bare !” 

“ It is well, John, and I hope you will receive 
profit and consolation from the performance of this 
duty. The Great Spirit overlooks none of his 
children ; and the man of the woods is as much an 
object of his care, as he who dwells in a palace. I 
wish you a good night, and pray God to bless you.” 

The Indian bent his head, and they separated — 
the one to seek his hut, and the other to join the 
party at the supper-table. While Benjamin was 
opening the door for the passage of the chief, he 
cried, in a tone that was meant to be quite con- 
soling — % 

The parson says the word that is true, John. 


THE PIONEERS. 


119 


If-so-be that they took count of the colour of a skin 
in heaven, why, they might refuse to muster on 
their books a Christian-born, like myself, just for 
the matter of a little tan, from cruising in warm la- 
titudes ; though, for the matter of that, this damned 
nor- wester is enough to whiten the skin of a black- 
amoor. Let the reefs out of your blanket, man, 
or your red hide will hardly weather the night, 
without a touch from the frost.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


For b«re the exile met from every clime, 

And (poke, in friendship, every distant tongue. 

Campbell. 

We have made our readers acquainted with some 
variety in character and nations, in introducing the 
most important personages of this legend to their 
notice : but, in order to establish the fidelity of our 
narrative, we will briefly attempt to explain the 
“ why and wherefore’’ of so motley a dramatis per- 
sonae. 

Europe, was, at the period of our tale, in the 
commencement of that mighty commotion which 
afterward shook her political institutions to their 
centre. Louis the Sixteenth had been beheaded, 
and a nation, once esteemed the most refined 
among the civilized people of the world, was 
changing her character, and substituting cruelty 
for mercy, and subtlety and ferocity for magnani- 
mity and courage. Thousands of Frenchmen were 
compelled to seek protection in distant lands. 
Among the crow^ds who fled from France and her 
islands, to the United States of America, w^as the 
gentleman whom we have already mentioned as 
Monsieur Le Quoi. He had been recommended 
to the favour of Judge Temple, by the head of an 


THE PIONEERS. 


121 


eminent mercantile house in New- York, with 
whom Marmaduke was in habits of intimacy, and 
accustomed to an exchange of good offices. At 
his first interview with the Frenchman, our Judge 
had discovered him to be a man of breeding, and 
one who had seen much more prosperous days in 
his own country. From certain hints that had es- 
caped him. Monsieur Le Quoi was suspected of 
having been a West-India planter, great numbers 
of whom had fled from St. Domingo and the other 
islands, and were now living in the Union, in a 
state of comparative poverty, and some in absolute 
want. The latter, was not, however, the lot of 
Monsieur Le Quoi. He had but little, he acknow- 
ledged, but that little was enough to furnish, in the 
language of the country, an assortment for a store. 

The knowledge of Marmaduke was eminently 
practical, and there was no part of a settler"* 8 life 
with which he was not familiar. Under his direc- 
tion, Monsieur Le Quoi made some purchases, con- 
sisting of a few clothes ; some groceries, with a 
good deal of tea and tobacco ; a quantity of iron- 
ware, among which was a large proportion of Bar- 
low’s jack-knives, potash-kettles, and spiders; a 
very formidable collection of crockery, of the 
coarsest quality, and most uncouth forms ; together 
with every other common article that the art of 
man has devised for his wants, not forgetting the 
luxuries of looking-glasses and Jew’s-harps. With 
this collection of valuables. Monsieur Le Quoi had 
stepped behind a counter, and, with a wonderful 
pliability of temperament, had dropped into his as- 
sumed character as gracefully as he had ever mov- 
ed in any other. The gentleness and suavity of 
his manners rendered him extremely popular ; be- 
sides this, the women soon discovered that he had 
a taste. His calicoes were the finest, or, in other 

VOL. I. 11 


122 


THE PIONEERS. 


words, the most showy, of any that were brought 
iDto the country ; and it was impossible to look 
at the prices asked for his goods by “ so pretty a 
spoken man.” Through these conjoint means, the 
affairs of Monsieur Le Quoi were again in a pros- 
perous condition, and he was looked up to by the 
settlers as the second best man on the “ Patent.” 

This term. Patent, which we have already used, 
and for which we may have further occasion, meant 
the district of country that had been originally 
granted to old Major Effingham, by the “ King’s 
letters patent,” and which had now become, by 
purchase under the act of confiscation, the proper- 
ty of Marmaduke Temple. It was a term in com- 
mon use, throughout the new parts of the state, 
and was usually annexed to the landlord’s name, 
as “ Temple’s, or Effingham’s Patent.” 

Major Hartmann was the descendant of a man, 
who, in company with a number of his countrymen, 
had migrated, with their families, from the banks 
of the Rhine, to those of the Mohawk. This trans- 
migration had occurred as far back as the reign of 
Queen Anne; and their descendants were now 
living, in great peace and plenty, on the fertile 
borders of that beautiful stream. 

The Germans or “ High Butchers,” as they 
were called, to distinguish them from the original, 
or Low Dutch colonists, were a very peculiar peo- 
ple. They possessed all the gravity of the latter, 
without any of their phlegm ; and, like them, the 
“ High Butchers” were industrious, honest, and 
economical. 

Fritz, or Frederick Hartmann, was an epitome 
N of all the vices and virtues, foibles and excellencies, 
of his race. He was passionate, though silent, ob- 
stinate, and a good deal suspicious of strangers ; of 
immoveable courage, inflexible honesty, and unde- 


THE PIONEERS. 


123 


viating in his friendships. Indeed, there was no 
change about him, unless it were from grave to 
gay. He was serious by months, and jolly by 
weeks. He had early in their acquaintance, form- 
ed an attachment for Marmaduke Temple, who 
was the only man, that could not talk High Dutch, 
that ever gained his entire confidence. Four times 
in each year, at periods equidistant, he left his low 
stone dwelling, on the banks of the Mohawk, and 
travelled the thirty miles, through the hills, to the 
door of the mansion-house in Templeton. Here 
he generally staid a week, and was reputed to 
spend much of that time in riotous living, counte- 
nanced by Mr. Richard Jones. But every one 
loved him, even to Remarkable Pettibone, to whom 
he occasioned some additional trouble ; he was so 
frank, so sincere, and, at times, so mirthful. He 
was now in his regular Christmas visit, and had 
not been in the village an hour, when Richard 
summoned him to fill a seat in the sleigh, to meet 
the landlord and his daughter. 

Before explaining the character and situation of 
Mr. Grant, it will be necessary to recur to times 
far back in the brief history of the settlement. 

There seems to be a tendency in human nature 
to endeavour to provide for the wants of this world, 
before our attention is turned to the business of 
the other. Religion was a quality but little culti- 
vated amid the stumps of Temple’s Patent, for the 
first few years of its settlement ; but, as most of its 
inhabitants were from the moral states of Connec- 
ticut and Massachusetts, when the wants of nature 
were satisfied, they began seriously to turn their 
attention to the introduction of those customs and 
observances, which had been the principal care of 
their forefathers. There was certainly a great va- 
riety of opinions on the subject of grace and free- 


124 


THE PIONEERS. 


will among the tenantry of Marmaduke ; and, when 
we take into consideration the variety of the reli- 
gious instruction which they received, it can easily 
be seen, that it could not well be otherwise. 

Soon after the village had been formally laid out 
into the streets and blocks that resembled a city, 
a meeting of its inhabitants had been convened, to 
take into consideration the propriety of establish- 
ing an Academy ! This measure originated with 
Richard, who, in truth, was much disposed to have 
the institution designated a University, or at least 
a College. Meeting after meeting was held, for 
this purpose, year after year. The resolutions of 
these assemblages appeared in the most conspicu- 
ous columns of a little, blue looking newspaper, 
that was already issued weekly from the garret of 
a dwelling-house in the village, and which the tra- 
veller might as often see stuck into the fissure of 
a stake that had been erected, at the point where 
the footpath from the log ckbin of some settler en- 
tered the highway, as a post-office for an individu- 
al. Sometimes the stake supported a small box, 
and a whole neighbourhood received a weekly sup- 
ply, for their literary wants, at this point, where 
the man who “ rides post” regularly deposited a 
bundle of the precious commodity. To these flou- 
rishing resolutions, wffiich briefly recounted the ge- 
neral utility of education, the political and geogra- 
phical rights of the village of Templeton to a partici- 
pation in the favours of the regents of the univer- 
sity, and the salubrity of the air, and wholesome- 
ness of the wat^r, together with the cheapness of 
food, and the superior state of morals in the neigh- 
bourhood, were uniformly annexed, in large Roman 
capitals, the names of Marmaduke Temple, as chair- 
man, and Richard Jones, as secretary. 

Happily for the success of this undertaking, the 


THE PIONEERS. 


125 


regents were not accustomed to resist these ap- 
peals to their generosity, whenever there was the 
prospect of a donation to second the request. 
Eventually Judge Temple concluded to bestow the 
necessary land, and to erect the required edifice 
chiefly at his own expense. The skill of Mr., or, 
as he was now called, from the circumstance of his 
having received the commission of a justice of the 
peace. Squire Doolittle, was again put in requisi- 
tion, and the science of Mr. Jones was once more 
resorted to. 

We shall not recount the different devices of 
these architects on the occasion ; nor would it be de- 
corous so to do, seeing that there was a convocation 
of the society of the ancient and honourable frater- 
nity “ of the free and accepted masons,” at the 
head of whom was Richard, in the capacity of mas- 
ter, doubtless to approve or reject such of the 
plans as, in their wisdom, they deemed to be for 
the best. The knotty point was, however, soon 
decided ; and, on the appointed day, the brother- 
hood marched, in great state, displaying sundry 
banners and mysterious symbols, each man with a 
little mimic apron before him, from a most cunning- 
ly contrived apartment in the garret of the ‘‘ Bold 
Dragoon,” an inn kept by one Captain Hollister, 
to the site of the intended edifice. Here Richard 
laid the corner-stone, with great state, amidst an 
assemblage of more than half the men, and all the 
women, within ten miles of Templeton. 

In the course of the succeeding week, there was 
another meeting of the people, not omitting swarms 
of the gentler sex, when the abilities of Hiram, at 
the “ square rule,” were put to the test of expe- 
riment. The frame fitted well; and the skeleton 
of the fabric was reared without a single accident, 
if w'e except a few falls from horses, while the la- 
11 * 


126 


THE PIONEERS. 


bourers were retuniing home in the dusk of the 
evening. From this time, the work advanced with 
great rapidity, and in the course of the season the 
labour was completed ; the edifice standing, in all 
its beauty and proportions, the boast of the village, 
the study of the young aspirants for architectural 
fame, and the admiration of every settler on the 
Patent. 

It was a long, narrow house, of wood, painted 
white, and more than half windows ; and when 
the observer stood at the western side of the build- 
ing, the edifice offered but a small obstacle to a full 
view of the rising sun. It was, in truth, but a very 
comfortless, open place, through which the day- 
light shone with prodigious facility. On its front 
were divers ornaments, in wood, designed by Ri- 
chard, and executed by Hiram ; but a window in 
the centre of the second story, immediately over 
the door, or grand entrance, and the “ steeple,’’ 
were the pride of the building. The former was, 
we believe, of the composite order, for it included 
in its composition a multitude of ornaments, and a 
great variety in figure. It consisted of an arched 
compartment in the centre, with a square, and 
smaller division on either side, the whole encased 
in heavy frames, deeply and laboriously moulded 
in pine w^ood, and lighted with a vast number of 
blurred and green-looking glass, of those dimen- 
sions which are commonly called “ eight by ten.” 
Blinds, that were intended to be painted green, 
kept the window in a state of preservation, and 
probably might have contributed to the effect of 
the whole, had not the failure in the public funds, 
which seems always to be incidental to any under- 
taking of this kind, left them in the sombre coat 
of lead colour wdth which they had been originally 
clothed. The ‘‘ steeple’’ was a . little cupola, rear 


THE PIONEERS. 


127 


ed on the very centre of the roof, on four tall pil- 
lars of pine, that were fluted with a gouge, and 
loaded with mouldings. On the tops of the columns 
^vas reared a dome, or cupola, resembling in shape 
an inverted tea-cup without its bottom, from the 
centre of which projected a spire, or shaft of wood, 
transfixed with two iron rods, that bore on their 
ends the letters N. S. E. and W., in the same 
metal. The whole was surmounted by an imitation 
of one of the finny tribe, carved in wood, by the 
liands of Richard, and painted, what he called, a 

S ’.ale-colour.” This animal Mr. Jones afiirmed 
to be an admirable resemblance of a great favourite 
of the epicures in that country, which bore the title 
of “ lake-fish and doubtless the assertion was 
true ; for, although intended to answer the pur- 
poses of a weathercock, the fish was observed in- 
variably to look, with a longing eye, in the direc- 
tion of the beautiful sheet of water that lay imbed- 
ded in the mountains of Templeton. 

For a short time after the charter of the regents 
was received, the trustees of this institution em- 
ployed a graduate of one of the eastern colleges, 
to instruct such youth as aspired to knowledge, 
’vvithin the walls of the edifice which we have de- 
scribed. The upper part of the building was in 
one apartment, and was intended for gala-days and 
exhibitions; and the lower contained two, that 
were intended for the great divisions of education, 
viz. the Latin and the English scholars. The 
former were never very numerous ; though the 
sounds of “nominative, genitive, penny,” 

were soon heard to issue from the windows of the 
room, to the great delight and manifest edification 
of the passenger. 

Only one labourer in this temple of Minerva, 
however, was known to get so far as to attempt a 


128 


THE PIONEERS. 


translation of Virgil. He, indeed, appeared at the 
annual exhibition, to the prodigious exultation of 
all his relatives, a farmer’s family in the vicinity, 
and repeated the whole of the first eclogue from 
memory, observing the intonations of the dialogue 
with much judgment and effect. The sounds, as 
they proceeded from his mouth, of 

“ Titty-ree too patty-lee roc-coo-bans sub teg-rai-nee faa-gy 

Syl-ves-trem lon-oo-i moo-sam med-i-taa-ris aa-ve-ny” — 

were the last that had been heard in that building, 
as probably they were the first that had ever been 
heard, in the same language, there or any where 
else. For by this time the trustees had discovered 
that they had anticipated the age, and the instruct 
rer, or principal^ was superseded by a master^ who 
went on to teach the more humble lesson of “ the 
more haste the worse speed,” in good, plain En- 
glish. 

From this time, until the date of our incidents, 
the Academy was a common country school ; arid 
the great room of the building was sometimes used 
as a court-room, on extraordinary trials; some- 
times for conferences of the religious, and the mo- 
rally disposed in the evening ; kt others for a ball, 
in the afternoon, given under the auspices of Ri- 
chard ; and on Sundays, invariably, as a place of 
public worship. 

When an itinerant priest, of the persuasion of 
the Methodists, Baptists, Universalists, or of the 
more numerous sect of the Presbyterians, was ac- 
cidentally in the neighbourhood, he was ordinarily 
invited to officiate, and was commonly rewarded 
for his services by a collection in a hat, before the 
congregation separated. When no such regular 
minister offered, a kind of colloquial prayer or two 
was made by some of the more gifted members, 


THE PIONEEHS. 


129 


and a sermon was usually read, from Sterne, by 
Mr. Richard Jones. 

The consequence of this desultory kind of priest^ 
hood was, as we have already intimated, a great 
diversity in opinion, on the more abstruse points of 
our faith. Each sect had its adherents, though 
neither Was regularly organized And disciplined. 
Of the religious education of Marmaduke, we have 
already written, nor was the doubtful character of 
his faith completely removed by his marriage. The 
mother of Elizabeth was an Episcopalian, as, indeed, 
was the mother of the Judge himself; and the good 
taste of Marmaduke revolted at the familiar collo- 
quies which the leaders of the conferences held 
with the Deity, in their nightly meetings. Inform, 
he was certainly an Episcopalian, though not a 
sectary of that denomination. On the other hand, 
Richard was as rigid in the observance of the ca- 
nons of his church as he was inflexible in his opi- 
nions. Indeed, he had once or twice essayed to 
introduce the Episcopal form of service, on the 
Sundays that their pulpit was vacant ; but Richard 
was a good deal addicted to carrying all things to 
an excess, and then there was something so papal 
in his air, that the greater part of his hearers de- 
serted him on the second Sabbath — on the third, 
his only auditor was Ben Pump ! 

Before the war of the revolution, the English 
church was supported, in their colonies, with much 
interest, by some of its adherents, in the mother 
country, and a few of the congregations were very 
amply endow^ed. But, for a season, after the in- 
dependence of the states was established, this sect 
of Christians languished, for the want of the high- 
est order of its priesthood. Pious and suitable 
divines were at length selected, and sent to the 
mother country, to receive that authority, which, 


130 


THE PIONEERS. 


it is understood, can only be transmitted directly 
from one to the other, and thus obtain, in order to 
preserve, that unity in their churches, which pro- 
perly belonged to a people of the same nation. 
But unexpected difficulties presented themselves, 
in the oaths with which the policy of England had 
fettered their establishment ; and much time was 
spent, before a conscientious sense of duty would 
permit the prelates of Britain to delegate the au- 
thority which was so earnestly sought. Time, 
patience, and zeal, however, removed every im- 
pediment ; and the venerable men, who had been 
set apart by the American churches, at length 
returned to their expecting diocesses, endowed 
with the most elevated functions of their earthly 
church. Priests and deacons were ordained ; and 
missionaries provided, to keep alive the expiring 
flame of devotion in such members as were depriv- 
ed of the ordinary ministrations, by dwelling in 
new and unorganized districts. 

Of this number was Mr. Grant. He had been 
sent into the county of which Templeton was the 
capital, and had been kindly invited by Manna- 
duke, and officiously pressed by Richard, to take 
up his abode in the village itself. A small and 
humble dwelling was prepared for his family, and 
the divine had made his appearance in the place 
but a few days previously to the time of his intro- 
duction to the reader. As his forms were entirely 
new to most of the inhabitants, and a clergyman of 
another denomination had previously occupied the 
field, by engaging the academy, the first Sunday 
after his arrival was suffered to pass in silence ; 
but now that his rival had passed on, like a me- 
teor, filling the air with the light of his wisdom, 
Richard was empowered to give notice, that “ Pub- 
lic worship, after the forms of the Protestant Epis- 


THE PIONEERS. 


131 


copal Church, would be held, on the night before 
Christmas, in the long-room of the academy in 
Templeton, by the Rev. Mr. Grant.” 

This annunciation excited great commotion 
among the sectaries to whom it was made. Some 
wondered as to the nature of the exhibition ; 
others sneered ; but a far greater part, recollecting 
the essays of Richard in that way, and mindful of 
the liberality, or rather laxity, of Marmaduke’s 
notions on the subject of sectarianism, thought it 
most prudent to be silent. 

The expected evening was, however, the won- 
der of the hour ; nor was the curiosity at all dimi- 
nished, when Richard and Benjamin, on the morn- 
ing of the eventful day, were seen to issue from 
the woods in the neighbourhood of the village, 
each bearing on his shoulders a large bunch of 
evergreens. This worthy pair was observed to 
enter the academy, and carefully to fasten the door, 
after which their proceedings remained a profound 
secret to the rest of the village ; Mr. Jones, before 
he commenced this mysterious business, having 
informed the schoolmaster, to the great delight of 
the white-headed flock he governed, that there 
could be no school that day. Marmaduke was 
apprised of all these preparations, by letter, and it 
was especially arranged, that he and Elizabeth 
should arrive in season, to participate in the so- 
lemnities of the evening. 

After this digression, we shall return to our nar- 
rative. 


CHAPTER IX. 


Now all admire, in each bigh-flavour'd disu 
The capabilities of flesh— fowl— fish ; 

Id order due each guest assumes his statioa 
Throbs high his breast with fond anticipatioa, 
y^nd prelibates the joys of mastication. 

Heliogabaliad. 

The apartment to which Monsieur Le Quoi 
lianded Elizabeth, communicated with the hall, 
through the door that led under the urn which was 
supposed to contain the ashes of Dido. The room 
was spacious, and of very just proportions ; but in 
its ornaments and furniture, the same diversity of 
taste, and imperfection of execution, were to be 
observed, as existed in the hall. Of furniture, 
there were a dozen green, wooden arm-chairs, 
with cushions of moreen, taken from the same 
piece as the petticoat of Remarkable. The tables 
were spread, and their materials and workmanship 
could not be seen ; but they were heavy, and of 
great size. There was an enormous glass, in a 
gilt frame, hung against the wall, and a cheerful 
fire, of the hard or sugar-maple, burning on the 
hearth. The latter was the first object that struck 
the attention of the Judge, who, on beholding it, 
exclaimed, rather angrily, to Richard — 

“How often have I forbidden the use of the 
sugar-maple for fires, in my dwelling. The sight 
of that sap, as it exudes with the b^at from the 


THE PIONEERS 


133 


eiK^s of those logs, is painful to me, Richard. 
Really, it behoves the owner of woods so exten- 
sive as mine, to be cautious what example he sets 
to his people, who are already felling the forests, 
as if no end could be found to their treasures, nor 
any limits to their extent. If we go on in this 
way, twenty years hence we shall want fuel.” 

“ Fuel in these hills, cousin ’duke !” exclaimed 
Richard in derision — “ fuel for our fires ! why, you 
might as well predict, that the fish will die, for the 
want of water in the lake, because I intend, when 
the frost gets out of the ground, to lead one or two 
of the springs, through logs, into the village. But 
you are always a little wild on such subjects, Mar- 
maduke.” 

“ Is it wildness,” returned the Judge, earnestly, 
“ to condemn a practice, which devotes these jew- 
els of the forest, these precious gifts of nature, 
these mines of comfort and wealth, to the common 
uses of a fire-place ? But I must, and will, the in- 
stant that the snow is off the earth, send out a 
party into the mountains to explore for coal.” 

“ Coal !” echoed Richard ; “ who the devil do 
you think will dig for coal, when in hunting for a 
bushel, he would have to rip up more roots of 
trees, than would keep him in fuel for a twelve- 
month ? Poh ! poh ! Marmaduke, you should 
leave the management of these things to me, who 
have a natural turn that way. It was I that order- 
ed this fire, and a noble one it is, to warm the blood 
in the veins of my pretty cousin Bess.” 

“ The motive, then, must be your apology, Dick- 
on,” said the Judge. — “But, gentlemen, we are 
waiting. Elizabeth, my child, take the head of 
the table ; Richard, I see, means to spare me the 
trouble of carving, by sitting opposite to you.” 

“ To be sure I do,” cried Richard ; “ here is a 

YOL. I. 12 


134 


THE PIONEERS. 


turkey to carve ; and I flatter myself that I under- 
stand carving a turkey, or, for that matter, a goose, 
as well as any man alive. Mr. Grant ! ^vhere’s 
Mr. Grant will you please to say grace, sir ? 
Every thing is getting cold. Take a thing fiom 
the fire, this cold weather, and it will freeze in 
five minutes. Mr. Grant ! we want you to say 
grace. ‘ For what we are about to receive, the 
Lord make us thankful.’ Come, sit down, sit 
down. Do you eat wing or breast, cousin Bess.” 

But Elizabeth had not taken her seat, nor was 
she in readiness to receive either the wdng or 
breast. Her laughing, dark eyes, were glancing 
at the arrangements of the table, and the quality 
and selection of the food. The eyes of her father 
soon met the wondering looks of his daughter, and 
he said, with a smile — 

“ You perceive, my child, how much we are in- 
debted to Remarkable, for her skill in housewife- 
ry ; she has indeed provided a noble repast ; such 
as well might stop the cravings of hunger.” 

“ Law !” said Remarkable, “ I’m glad if the 
Judge is pleased ; but I’m notional that you’U find 
the sa’ce overdone. I thought, as Elizabeth was 
coming home, that a body could do no less than 
make things agreeable.” 

“ My daughter has now grown to woman’s estate, 
and is from this moment mistress of my house,” 
said the Judge, sternly ; “ it is proper that all, who 
live with me, address her as Miss Temple.” 

“ Do tell !” exclaimed Remarkable, a little 
aghast; “well, who ever heerd of a young wo- 
man’s being called Miss } If the Judge had a wife 
now, I should’nt think of calling her any thing but 
Miss Temple ; but ” 

“ Having nothing but a daughter, you will oh 


THE PIONEERS. 


135 


serve that style to her, if you please, in future,” 
interrupted Marmaduke. 

As the Judge looked seriously displeased, and, 
at such moments, carried a particularly command- 
ing air with him, the wary housekeeper made no 
reply ; and, Mr. Grant entering the room, the 
whole party were soon seated at the table. As 
the arrangements of this repast were much in the 
prevailing taste of that period and country, we 
shall endeavour to give a short description of the 
appearance of the banquet. 

The table-linen was of the most beautiful da- 
mask, and the plates and dishes of real china, an 
article of great luxury at this early period in Ame- 
rican commerce. The knives and forks were of 
exquisitely polished steel, and were set in uncloud- 
ed ivory. So much, being furnished by the wealth 
of Marmaduke, was not only comfortable, but even 
elegant. The contents of the several dishes, and 
their positions, however, were the result of the 
sole judgment of Remarkable. Before Elizabeth, 
was placed an enormous roasted turkey, and be- 
fore Richard, one boiled. In the centre of the ta- 
ble, stood a pair of heavy silver castors, surround- 
ed by fojur dishes ; one a fricassee, that consisted of 
gray squirrels ; another of fish fried ; a third of 
fish boiled; the last was a venison steak. Be- 
tween these dishes and the turkeys, stood, on th 
one side, a prodigious chine of roasted bear’s meat, 
and on the other a boiled leg of delicious mutton 
Interspersed among this load of meats, was every 
species of vegetables that the season and country 
afforded. The four corners were garnished with 
plates of cake. On one was piled certain curious- 
ly twisted and complicated figures, called “ nut- 
cakes.” On another were heaps of a black-look- 
ing substance, which, receiving its hue from mo- 


13G 


THE PIONEERS. 


lasses, was properly termed ‘‘ sweet-cake a 
wonderful favourite in the coterie of Remarkable. 
A third was filled, to use the language of the house- 
keeper, with “ cards of gingerbread and the last 
held a “ plum-cake,” so called from the number of 
large raisins that were showing their black heads, 
in a substance of a wonderfully similar colour. 
At each corner of the table stood saucers, filled 
with a thick fluid, of somewhat equivocal colour 
and consistence, variegated with small dark lumps 
of a substance that resembled nothing but itself, 
which Remarkable termed her “ sweet-meats.” 
At the side of each plate, which was placed bot- 
tom upwards, with its knife and fork most accu- 
rately crossed above it, stood another, of smaller 
size, containing a motley-looking pie, composed of 
triangular slices of apple, mince, pumpkin, cran- 
berry, and custard^ so arranged as to form an en- 
tire whole. Decanters of brandy, rum, gin, and 
wine, with sundry pitchers of cider, beer, and one 
hissing vessel of “ flip,” were put wherever an 
opening would admit of their introduction. Not- 
withstanding the size of the tables, there was 
scarcely a spot where the rich damask could be 
seen, so crowded were t\\e dishes, and their asso- 
ciated bottles, plates, and saucers. The object 
seemed to be profusion, and it was obtained en- 
tirely at the expense of order and elegance. 

All the guests, as well as the Judge himself, 
seemed perfectly familiar with this description of 
fare, for each one commenced eating, with an ap- 
petite that promised to do great honour to Re- 
markable’s taste and skill. What rendered this 
attention to the repast a little surprising, was the 
fact, that both the German and Richard had been 
summoned ii'om another table, to meet the judge ; 
but Major Hartmann both ate and drank without 


THE PIONEERS. 


137 


any rule, when on his excursions ; and Mr. Jones 
invariably made it a point to participate in the bu- 
siness in hand, let it be what it would. The host 
seemed to think some apology necessary for the 
warmth he had betrayed on the subject of the fire- 
wood, and when the party were comfortably seat- 
ed, and engaged with their knives and forks, he 
observed — 

“ The wastefulness of the settlers, with the no- 
ble trees of this country, is shocking. Monsieur Le 
Quoi, as doubtless you have noticed. I have seen 
a man fell a pine, when he has been in want of 
fencing-stuff, and roll its first cuts into the gap, 
where he left it to rot, though its top would have 
made rails enough to answer his purpose, and its 
but would have sold in the Philadelphia market 
for twenty dollars.” 

“ And how the devil — I beg your pardon, Mr. 
Grant,” interrupted Richard ; “ but how is the 
poor devil to get his logs to the Philadelphia mar- 
ket, pray ? put them in his pocket, ha ! as you 
would a handful of chestnuts, or a bunch of chicker- 
berries.^ I should like to see you walking up 
High-street, with a pine log in each pocket ! — 
Poh ! poh ! cousin ’duke, there are trees enough 
for us all, and some to spare. Why, 1 can hardly 
tell which way the wind blows, when Pm out in 
the clearings, they are so thick, and so tall ; — I 
couldn’t at all, if it was’nt for the clouds, and I 
happen to know all the points of the compass, as 
it were, by heart.” 

“Ay! ay! Squire,” cried Benjamin, who had 
now entered, and taken his place behind the 
Judge’s chair, a little aside withal, in order to be 
ready for any observation like the present ; “ look 
aloft, sir, look aloft. The old seamen say, ‘ that 
the devil wouldn’t make a sailor, unless he look’d 
12 ^ 


1S3 


THE PIONEERS. 


aloft.’ As for the compass, why, there is no such 
thing as steering without one. I’m sure I never 
lose sight of the main-top, as I call the Squire’s 
look-out, but I set my compass, d’ye see, ^nd take 
the bearings and distance of things, in order to 
work out my course, if-so-be that it should cloud 
up, or the tops of the trees should shut out the 
light of heaven. The steeple of St. Paul’s, now 
that we have got it on end, is a great help to the 
navigation of the woods, for, by the lord Harry, as 
I was” — 

“ It is well, Benjamin,” interrupted Marraaduke, 
observing his daughter, who manifested evident 
displeasure at the major-domo’s familiarity ; “ but 
you forget there is a lady in company, and the wo- 
men love to do most of the talking themselves.” 

“ The Judge says the true word,” cried Benja- 
min, with one of his discordant laughs ; “ now here 
is Mistress Remarkable Prettybones ; just take the 
stopper off her tongue, and you’ll hear a gabbling, 
worse like than if you should happen to fall toiee- 
ward, in crossing a French privateer, or some such 
thing, mayhap, as a dozen monkeys stowed in one 
bag.” 

It were impossible to say, how perfect an illus 
tration of the truth of Benjamin’s assertion the 
housekeeper would have furnished, if she dare ; 
but the Judge looked sternly at her, and, unwill- 
ing to incur his resentment, yet unable to contain 
her anger, she threw herself out of the room, with 
a toss of her body, that nearly separated her frail 
form in the centre. 

“ Richard,” said Marmaduke, observing that his 
displeasure had produced the desired effect, “ can 
you inform me of any thing concerning the youth, 
whom I so unfortunately wounded ^ I found him 
on the mountain, hunting in company with the 


THE PIONEERS. 


139 


Leather-stocking, as if they were of the same fami- 
ly ; but there is a manifest difference in their man- 
ners. The youth delivers himself in chosen lan- 
guage ; such as is seldom heard in these hills, and 
such as occasions great surprise to me, how one so 
meanly clad, and following so lowly a pursuit, could 
attain. Mohegan also knew him. Doubtless he 
is a tenant of Natty’s hut. Did you notice the 
language of the lad. Monsieur Le Quoi ?” 

Certainement, Monsieur Tempi’,” returned 
the Frenchman, “ he deed conevairse in de most 
excellent Anglaise.” 

‘‘ The boy is not a miracle,” exclaimed Richard; 
‘‘ I’ve known children that were sent to school 
early, talk much better, before they were twelve 
years old. There was Zareed Coe, old Nehemi- 
ah’s son, who first settled on the beaverdara mea- 
dow, he could write almost as good a hand as my- 
self, when he was fourteen ; though it’s true, I 
helped to teach him a little, in the long evenings. 
But this shooting gentleman ought to be put in the 
stocks, if he ever takes a rein in his hand again. 
He is the most awkward fellow about a horse I 
ever met with, I dare say, he never drove any 
thing but oxen in his life,” 

“ There I think, Dickon, you do the lad injus- 
tice,” said the Judge ; “he uses much discretion in 
critical moments, — Dost thou not think so, Bess.^” 

There was nothing in this question particularly 
to excite the blushes of a maiden, but Elizabeth 
started from the reverie into which she had fallen, 
and coloured to her forehead, as she answered — 

“ To me, my dear sir, he appeared extremely 
skilful, and prompt, and courageous ; but perhaps 
cousin Richard will say, I am as ignorant as the 
gentleman himself.” 


140 


THE PIONEERS. 


Gentleman echoed Richard ; “ do you call 
such chaps gentlemen, at school, Elizabeth 

“ Every man is a gentleman, who knows how to 
treat a woman with respect and consideration,” 
returned the young lady, promptly, and with an air 
hf a little dignity. 

So much for hesitating to appear before the 
heiress in his shirt sleeves,” cried Richard, wink- 
ing at Monsieur Le Quoi, who returned the hint 
with one eye, while he rolled the other, with an 
expression of great sympathy, towards the young 
lady. — “ Well, well, to me he seemed any thing 
but a gentleman. I must say, however, for the 
lad, that he draws a good trigger, and has a true 
aim. He’s good at shooting a buck, ha ! Marma- 
duke ?” 

“ Richart,” said Major Hartmann, turning his 
grave countenance towards the gentleman he ad- 
dressed, with much earnestness, “ ter poy is goot. 
He savet your life, and my life, and ter life of To- 
minie Grant, and ter life of ter Frenchman ; and, 
Richart, he shall never vant a pet to sleep in vile 
olt Fritz Hartmann has a shingle to cover his bet 
mit.” 

Well, well, as you please, old gentleman,” re- 
turned Mr. Jones, endeavouring to look excessively 
indifferent ; “ put him into your own stone house, 
if you will. Major. I dare say the lad never slept 
in any thing better than a bark shanty in his life, 
unless it was some such hut as the cabin of Leather- 
stocking. I prophesy you will soon spoil him ; 
any one could see how’ proud he grew, in a short 
time, just because he stood by my horses’ heads, 
while I turned them into the highway.” 

“ No, no, my old friend,” cried Marmaduke, “ it 
shall be my task, to provide in some manner for 
the youth : I owe him a debt of my oAvn, besides 


THE PIONEERS. 


141 


the service he has done me, through my friends. 
And yet I anticipate some little trouble, in induc- 
ing him to accept of my services. He showed a 
marked dislike, I thought, Bess, to my offer of a 
residence wdthin these walls for life.” 

“ Really, dear sir,” said Elizabeth, projecting 
her beautiful under-lip, “ I have not studied the 
gentleman so closely, as to read his feelings in his 
countenance. I thought he might very naturally 
feel pain from his wound, and therefore pitied him ; 
but” — and as she spoke she glanced her eye, with 
a conscious timidity, towards the major-domo — “ I 
dare say, sir, that Benjamin can tell you some- 
thing about him. He cannot have been in the 
village, and Benjamin not have seen him often.” 

Ay ! 1 have seen the boy before,” said Benja- 
min, who wanted no other encouragement to speak : 
‘‘ he has been backing and filling in the wake of 
Natty Bumppo, through the mountains, after deer, 
like a Dutch long-boat in tow of an Albany sloop. 
He carries a good rifle too. The Leather-stock- 
ing said, in my hearing, before Betty Hollister’s 
bar-room fire, no later than the Tuesday night, 
that the younker was certain death to the wild 
beasts. If-so-be he can kill the wild-cat, that has 
been heard moaning on the lake side, since the 
hard frosts and deep snows have driven the deer 
to her, he will be doing the thing that is good. 
Your wild-cat is a bad ship-mate, and should be 
made to cruise out of the track of all Christian 
men.” 

“ Lives he in the hut of Bumppo ?” asked Mar- 
maduke, with some interest ; and the full black 
eyes of Elizabeth resting intently on the scorched 
visage of the steward, while she waited his reply. 

“ Cheek by jowl,” said Benjamin ; “ the Wednes- 
day will be three weeks since he first hove in 


142 


THE PIONEERS. 


sight, in company with Leather-stocking. They 
had captured a wolf between them, and had brought 
in his scalp for the bounty. That Mister Bump-ho 
has a handy turn with him, in taking off a scalp ; 
and there’s them, in this here village, who say he 
larnt the trade by working on Christian men. If- 
so-be that there is truth in the saying, and I com- 
manded along shore here, as your honour does, why, 
d’ye see. I’d bring him to the gangway for it yet. 
There’s a very pretty post rigged alongside of the 
stocks ; and for the matter of a cat, I can fit one 
with my own hands ; ay ! and use it too, for the 
want of a better.” 

“You are not to credit all the idle tales, sir, 
that you hear of Natty,” said the Judge : “he has 
a kind of natural right to gain a livelihood in these 
mountains ; and if the idlers in the village take it 
into their heads to annoy him, as they sometimes 
do reputed rogues, they shall find him protected 
by the strong arm of the law.” 

“ Ter rifle is petter as ter law,” said the Major, 
sententiously. 

“ That for his rifle !” exclaimed Richard, snap- 
ping his fingers; “Ben is right, and I” He 

was stopped by the sounds of a common shipbell, 
that had been elevated to the belfry of the acade- 
my, which now announced, by its incessant ring- 
ing, that the hour for the appointed service had 
arrived. “ ‘ For this, and every other instance of 
his goodness’— I beg pardon, Mr. Grant ; will you 
please to return thanks, sir ? it is time we should 
be moving, as we are the only Episcopalians in the 
neighbourhood ; that is, I, and Benjamin, and Eli- 
zabeth.” 

The divine arose, and performed the office, 
meekly and fervently, ajid the whole party instant- 
ly prepared themselves for the church — or rather 
academy. 


CHAPTER X. 


“ And, calling sinful man to pray, 

Loud, long, and deep the Ijell had toll’d.” 

Scott's Burgher. 


While Richard and Monsieur Le Quoi, attended 
by Benjamin, proceeded to the academy, by afoot- 
path that was trodden in the snow, across the 
grounds of the Mansion-house, the Judge, his 
daughter, the Divine, and the Major, took a more 
circuitous route to the same place, through the 
streets of the village. 

The moon had risen, during the time that our 
travellers were housed, and its orb was shedding a 
flood of light over the dark outline of pines, which 
crowned the eastern mountain. In other climates, 
the sky would have been thought clear and lucid 
for a noon-tide. The stars twinkled in the hea- 
vens, like the last faint glimmerings of distant fire, 
so much were they obscured by the overwhelming 
radiance of the atmosphere ; the rays from the 
moon striking upon the smooth white surfaces of 
the lake and fields, reflecting upwards a light that 
was brightened by the spotless colour of the im- 
mense bodies of snow, which covered the earth. 

Elizabeth employed herself with reading the 
signs, one of which appeared over almost every 


144 


THE PIONEERS. 


door, while the sleigh moved, steadily and at an 
easy gait, along the principal street. Not only 
new occupations, but names that were strangers to 
her ears, met her bewildered gaze, at every step 
they proceeded. The very houses seemed chang- 
ed. This had been altered by an addition ; that 
had been painted ; another had been erected on 
the site of an old acquaintance, which had been 
banished from the earth almost as soon as it made 
its appearance on it. All were, however, pouring 
forth their inmates, who uniformly held their way 
towards the point, where the expected exhibition 
of the taste of Richard and Benjamin was to be 
made. 

After viewing the buildings, which really ap- 
peared to some advantage, under the bright but 
mellow light of the moon, our heroine turned her 
eyes to a scrutiny of the different figures that they 
passed, in search of any form that she knew. But 
all seemed alike, as muffled in cloaks, hoods, coats, 
or tippets, they glided along the narrow passages 
in the snow, which led under the houses, half hid 
by the bank that had been thrown up in excavat- 
ing the deep path in which they trod. Once or 
twice she thought there was a stature, or a gait, 
that she recollected, but the person who owned it 
instantly disappeared behind one of those enormous 
piles of wood, that lay before most of the doors. 
It was only as they turned from the main street 
into another that intersected it at right angles, and 
which led directly to the place of meeting, that she 
recognised a face and building that she knew. 

The house stood at one of the principal corners 
in the village, and, by its well-trodden door-way, 
as well as the sign, that was swinging, with a kind 
of doleful sound, in the blasts that occasionally 
swept down the lake, was clearly one of the most 


THE PIONEERS. 


145 


frequented inns in the place. The building was 
only of one story, but the dormant windows in the 
roof, the paint, the window-shutters, and cheerful 
fire that shone through the open door, gave it an 
air of comfort, that was not possessed by many of 
its neighbours. The sign was suspended from a 
common ale-house post, and represented the figure 
of a horseman, armed with sabre and pistols, and 
surmounted by a bear-skin cap, with a fiery animal 
that he bestrode “ rampant.” All these particu- 
lars were easily to be seen, by the aid of the moon, 
together with a row of somewhat illegible writing, 
in black paint, but in which Elizabeth, to whom 
the whole was familiar, read with facility “ The 
Bold Dragoon.” 

A man and a woman were issuing from the 
door of this habitation, as the sleigh was passing. 
The former moved with a stiff, military step, that 
was a good deal heightened by a limp that he had 
in one leg ; but the woman advanced wdth a mea- 
sure and an air, that seemed not particularly re- 
gardful of what she might encounter. The light 
of the moon fell directly upon her full, broad, and 
red visage ; exhibiting her masculine countenance, 
under the mockery of a ruffled cap, that was in- 
tended evidently to soften the lineaments of her 
features. A small bonnet of black silk, and of a 
slightly formal cut, was placed on the back of her 
head, but so as not to shade her visage in the least. 
Her face, as it encountered the rays of the moon 
from the east, seemed not unlike a sun rising in the 
west. She advanced, with masculine strides, to 
intercept the sleigh, and the Judge, directing the 
namesake of the Grecian king, who held the lines, 
to check his horses, the parties were soon near to 
each other. 

“ Good luck to ye, and a wilcorae home, Jooge !” 

VOL. I. 13 


146 


THE PIONEERS. 


cried the female, with a strong Irish accent ; “ and 
I’m sure it’s to me that ye’r always wilcome. 
Sure ! and there’s Miss ’Lizzy, and a fine young 
woman is she grown. What a heartach would she 
be giving the young men now, if there was sich a 
thing as a rigiment in the town. Och ! but it’s 
idle to talk of sich vanities, while the bell is call- 
ing us to mateing, jist as we shall be call’d away 
unexpictedly, some day, when we are the laist 
calkilating on it. Gobd even. Major ; will 1 make 
the bowl of gin-toddy the night ? — or it’s likely 
ye’ll stay at the big house, the Christmas eve, and 
the very night of ye’r getting there 

“ I am glad to see you, Mrs. Hollister,” return- 
ed the voice of Elizabeth. “ I have been trjung 
to find a face that I knew*, since we left the door 
of the Mansion-house, but none have I seen except 
your own. Your house, too, is unaltered, while 
all the others are so changed, that, but for the 
places where they stand, they would be utter 
strangers. I observe you keep also the dear sign, 
that I saw' cousin Richard paint, and even the name 
at the bottom, about which, you may remember, 
you had the disagreement.” 

“ Is it the bould dragoon ye mane ? and what 
name would ye have, who niver was known by any 
other, as my husband here, the Captain, can testify 
to. He was a pleasure to wait upon, and w'as iyei 
the foremost in the hour of need. Och ! but he 
had a sudden ind ! But it’s to be hoped, that he 
was justified by the cause. And it’s not Parson 
Grant there, who’ll gainsay that same. — Yes, yes 
— the Squire would paint, and so I thought that 
we might have his face up there, who had so often 
shared good and evil wid us. The eyes is no so 
large nor so fiery as the Captain’s own, but the 
whiskers and the cap is as like as two paas. — Well, 


THE PIONEERS, 


147 


— I’ll not keep ye in the cowld, talking, but 
will drop in, the morrow, after sarvice, and jist ask 
ye how ye do. It’s our bounden duty to make the 
most of this present, and to go to the house which 
is open to all : so God bless ye, and keep ye from 
evil. — Will I make the gin-twist the night, or no. 
Major?” 

To this question the German replied, very 
sententiously, in the affirmative ; ;and, after a few 
words had passed between the husband of this 
fiery -faced hostess and the Judge, the sleigh moved 
on. It soon reached the door of the academy, 
where the party alighted and entered the build- 
ing. 

In the mean time Mr. Jones and his two compa- 
nions, having a much shorter distance to journey, 
had arrived before the appointed place several 
minutes sooner than the party in the sleigh. In- 
stead of hastening into the room, in order to enjoy 
the astonishment of the settlers, Richard placed 
a hand in either pocket of his surtout, and affected 
to walk about, in front of the academy, with great 
indifference. 

The villagers proceeded uniformly into the build- 
ing, with a decorum and gravity that nothing could 
move, on such occasions ; but with a haste that 
was probably a little heightened by curiosity. 
Those who came in from the adjacent country, 
spent some little time in placing certain blue and 
white blankets over their horses, before they pro- 
ceeded to indulge their desire to view the interior 
of the house. Most of these men Richard ap- 
proached, and inquired after the health and condi- 
tion of their families. The readiness with which 
he mentioned the names of even the children, 
show^ed how^ very familiarly acquainted he was 
with their circumstances ; and the nature of the 


148 


THE PIONEERS. 


answers he received, proved that he was a general 
favourite. 

At length one of the pedestrians from the vil- 
lage stopped also, and fixed an earnest gaze at a 
new brick edifice, that was throwing a long shadow 
across the fields of snow, as it rose, with a beauti- 
ful gradation of light and shade, under the rays of 
a full moon. In front of the academy was a vacant 
piece of ground, that was intended for a public 
square. On the side opposite to where stood Mr. 
Jones, the new and as yet unfinished church of 
St. Paul’s was erected. This edifice had been 
reared during the preceding summer, by the aid of 
what was called a subscription ; though all, oi 
nearly all, of the money it had cost, came from the 
pocket of the landlord. It had been built undei 
the strong conviction of the necessity of a more 
seemly place of worship than “ the long room of 
the academy,” and under an implied agreement, 
that, after its completion, the question should be 
fairly put to the people, that they might decide to 
what denomination it should belong. Of course, 
this expectation kept alive a strong excitement, in 
some few of the sectaries who were interested in 
its decision ; though but little was said openly on 
the subject. Had Judge Temple espoused the 
cause of any particular sect, the question would 
have been immediately put at rest, for his influ- 
ence was too powerful to be opposed ; but he de- 
clined all interference in the matter, positively re- 
fusing to lend even the weight of his name on the 
side of Richard, who had secretly given an assu- 
rance to his Diocesan, that both the building and 
the congregation would cheerfully come within 
the pale of the Protestant Episcopal Church. But 
when the neutrality of the Judge was clearly as- 
certained, Mr. Jones discovered that he had to 


THE PIONEERS. 


149 


contend with a stiff-necked people. His first mea- 
sure was to go among them, and commence a course 
of reasoning, in order to bring them round to his 
own w^ay of thinking. They all heard him pa- 
tiently, and not a man uttered a word in reply, in 
the way of argument : and Richard thought, by 
the time that he had gone through the settlement, 
the thing was to be conclusively decided in his fa- 
vour. Willing to strike while the iron was hot, he 
called a meeting, through the newspaper, with a 
view to decide the question by a vote, at once. 
Not a soul attended ; and one of the most anxious 
afternoons that he had ever known, was spent by 
Richard in a vain discussion with Mrs. Hollister, 
who strongly contended that the Methodist (her 
own) church was the best entitled to, and most 
deserving of the possession of the new tabernacle, 
Richard now perceived that he had been too san- 
guine, and had fallen into the error of all those who, 
ignorantly, deal with that wary and sagacious peo- 
ple. He assumed a disguise himself, that is, as 
well as he knew how, and proceeded step by step 
to advance his purpose. 

The task of erecting the building had been unani- 
mously transferred to Mr. Jones and Hiram Doo- 
little. Together they had built the mansion-house, 
the academy, and the jail; and they alone knew 
how to plan and rear such a structure as was now 
required. Early in the day, these architects had 
made an equitable division of their duties. To the 
former was assigned the duty of making all the 
plans, and to the latter, the labour of superintend* 
ing the execution. 

Availing himself of this advantage, Richard si- 
lently determined that the windows should have 
the Roman arch, as the first positive step he would 
take in effecting his wishes. As the building was 
13 ♦ 


THE PIOHEERS. 


15^- 

made of bricks, be was enabled to conceal his de- 
sign, until the moment arrived for placing the 
frames : then, indeed, it became necessary to act. 
He communicated his wishes to Hiram with great 
caution ; and without in the least adverting to the 
spiritual part of his project, he pressed the point a 
little warmly, on the score of architectural beauty. 
Hiram heard him patiently, and without contradic- 
tion ; but still Richard was unable to discover the 
views of his coadjutor, on this interesting subject. 
As the right to plan was duly delegated to Mr. 
Jones, no direct objection was made in words, but 
numberless unexpected difficulties arose in the 
execution. At first, there was a scarcity in the 
right kind of material necessary to form the frames ; 
but this objection was instantly silenced, by Ri- 
chard running his pencil through two feet of their 
length at one stroke. Then the expense was men- 
tioned ; but Richard reminded Hiram that his 
cousin paid, and that he was his treasurer. This 
last intimation had great weight, and after a silent 
and protracted, but fruitless opposition, the work 
was suffered to proceed on the original plan. 

The next difficulty occurred in the steeple, 
which Richard had modelled after one of the small- 
er of those spires that adorn the great London Ca- 
thedral. The imitation w'as somewhat lame, it is 
true, the proportions being but indifferently ob- 
served ; but, after much difficulty, Mr. Jones had 
the satisfaction of seeing an object reared, that 
bore, in its outlines, a prodigious resemblance to an 
old-fashioned vinegar-cruet. There was less op- 
position to this model than to the windows, for 
the settlers were fond of novelty, and their steeple 
w’as without a precedent. 

Here the labour had ceased for the season, and 
the difficult question of the interior remained for 


THE PIONEERS. 


151 


further deliberation. Richard well knew, that 
when he came to propose a reading-desk and a 
chancel, he must unmask; for these were arrange- 
ments, known to no church in the country, but 
his own. Presuming, however, on the advantages 
he had already obtained, he boldly styled the build- 
ing St. Paul’s, and Hiram prudently acquiesced in 
this appellation, making, however, the slight addi- 
tion of calling it “ New St. Paul’s,” feeling less 
aversion to a name taken from the English Cathe- 
dral, than from the saint. 

The pedestrian, whom we have already men- 
tioned, as pausing to contemplate this edifice, was 
no other than the gentleman so frequently named 
as Mr., or Squire, Doolittle. He was of a tall, 
gaunt formation, with sharp features, and a face 
that expressed formal propriety, mingled with low 
cunning. Richard approached him, followed by 
Monsieur Le Quoi and the Major domo. 

“Good evening. Squire,” said Richard, bobbing 
his head, but without moving his hands from his 
pockets. 

“ Good evening, Squire,” echoed Hiram, turning 
his body, in order to turn his head also. 

“ A cold night, Mr. Doolittle, a cold night, sir.” 

“ Coolish,” said Hiram; “a tedious spell on’t.” 

“ What, looking at our church, ha ! it looks well 
by moonlight ; how the tin of the cupola glistens. 
I warrant you, the dome of the other St. Paul’s 
never shines so in the smoke of London.” 

“ It is a pretty meeting-house to look on,” re- 
turned Hiram, “ and I believe that Monshure Ler 
Quow and Mr. Penguilliam will allow it.” 

“Sairtainlee!” exclaimed the complaisant French- 
man, “ it ees ver line.” 

“ I thought the Monshure would say so,” ob 
served Hiram. “ Them last molasses that we had 


153 


THE PIONEERS. 


was excellent good. It isn’t likely that you have 
any more of it on hand ?” 

“ Ah ! oui ; ees, sair,” returned Monsieur Le 
Quoi, with a slight shrug of his shoulder, and a tri- 
fling grimace, “dere is more. I feel verhappi dat 
you love eet. I hope dat Madame Doleet’ is in 
good ’ealth.” 

“ Why, so as to be stirring,” said Hiram. — ‘^The 
Squire hasn’t finished the plans for the inside of 
the meeting house yet ?” 

“ No — no — no,” returned Richard, speaking 
quickly, but making a significant pause betw^een 
each negative — ‘‘ it requires reflection. There is 
a great deal of room to fill up, and I am afraid we 
shall not know how to dispose of it to advantage. 
There will be a large vacant spot around the pul- 
pit, which I do not mean to place against the wall, 
like a sentry-box stuck up on the side of a fort.” 

“ It is ruleable to put the deacons’ box under 
the pulpit,” said Hiram ; and then, as if he had 
ventured too much, he added, “ but there’s differ- 
ent fashions in different countries.” 

“That there is,” cried Benjamin; “now, in 
running down the coast of Spain and Portingall, 
you may see a nunnery stuck out on every head- 
land, with more steeples and outriggers, such as 
dog-vanes and weather-cocks, than you’ll find 
aboard of a three-masted schooner. If-so-be that 
a well built church is wanting. Old England, after 
all, is the country to go to, after your models and 
fashion pieces. As to Paul’s, thof I’ve never seen 
it, being that it’s a long way up town from Rad- 
cliffe-highway and the docks, yet every body knows 
that it’s the grandest place in the world. Now, 
I’ve no opinion but this here church over there, is 
as like one end of it, as a grampus is to a whale ; 
and that’s only a small difterence in bulk. Moun- 


THE PIOKEERS. 


153 


sheer Ler Quaw here, has been in foreign parts, 
and thof that is not the same as having been at 
home, yet he must have seen churches in France 
too, and can form a small idee of what a church 
should be : now, I ask the Mounsheer to his face, 
if it is not a clever little thing, taking it by and 
large 

“ It ees ver apropos to saircumstonce,” said the 
Frenchman — ‘‘ver judgement — but it is in de ca- 
tholique country dat dey build de — vat you call — 
ah a ah-ha — la grande cathedrale — de big church. 
St. Paul, Londre, is ver fine ; ver bootiful ; ver 
grand — vat you call beeg ; but, Monsieur Ben, 
pardonnez moi, it is no vort so much as Notre 
Dame” 

“ Ha ! Mounsheer, what is that you say ?” cried 
Benjamin — “ St. Paul’s church not worth so much 
as a damn ! Mayhap you may be thinking too, that 
the Royal Billy isn’t as good a ship as the Billy de 
Paris ; but she would have lick’d two of her, any 
day, and in all weathers.” 

As Benjamin had assumed a very threatening 
kind of attitude, flourishing an arm, with a bunch 
at the end of it, that was half as big as Monsieur 
Le Quoi’s head, Richard thought it time to inter- 
pose his authority. 

“ Hush, Benjamin, hush,” he said ; “ you both 
misunderstand Monsieur Le Quoi, and forget your- 
self. — But here comes Mr. Grant, and the service 
will commence. Let us go in.” 

The Frenchman, who received Benjamin’s reply 
with a well-bred good humour, that would not ad- 
mit of any feeling but pity for the other’s ignorance, 
bowed in acquiescence, and followed his com- 
panion. 

Hiram and the Major Domo brought up the rear, 
the latter grumbling, as he entered the building — 


154 


THE PIONEERS. 


“ If-so-be that the King of France had so much 
as a house to live in, that would lay along-side of 
Paul’s, one might put up with their jaw. It’s ihore 
than flesh and hlood can hear, to hear a Frenchman 
run down an English church in this manner. Why, 
Squire Doolittle, I’ve been at the whipping of two 
of them in one day — clean built, snug frigates, with 
standing-royals, and them new-fashioned cannon- 
ades on their quarters — such as, if they had only 
Englishmen aboard of them, would have fout the 
devil.” 

With this ominous word in his mouth, Benjamin 
entered the church ! 


CHAPTER XI. 


And fools, who came to scoff, remain’d to pray.” 

Qoldsmith. 

Notwithstanding the united labours of Ri- 
chard and Benjamin, the “ long-room” was but an 
extremely plain and inartificial temple. Benches, 
made in the coarsest manner, and entirely with a 
view to usefulness, were arranged in rows, for the 
reception of the congregation ; wdiile a rough, un- 
painted box, was placed against the wall, in the 
centre of the length of the apartment, as an apolo- 
gy for a pulpit. Something like a reading-desk 
was in front of this rostrum, and a small mahoganv 
table, from the mansion-house, covered with a 
spotless damask cloth, stood a little on one side, 
by the way of an altar. Branches of pines and 
hemlocks were stuck in each of the fissures that 
offered, in the unseasoned, and hastily completed 
wood- work, of both the building and its furniture ; 
while festoons and hieroglyphics met the eye, in 
vast profusion, along the brown sides of the scratch- 
coated walls. As the room was only lighted by 
some ten or fifteen miserable candles, and the win- 
dows were without shutters, it would have been 
but a dreary, cheerless place for the solemnities of 
a Christmas-eve, had not the large fire, that was 


156 


THK PIONEERS. 


crackling at each end of the apartment, given an air 
of cheerfulness to the scene, by throwing an oc- 
casional glare of light through the vistas of bushes 
and faces. 

The two sexes were separated by an arez^^in the 
centre of the room, immediately before the pulpit, 
and a few benches lined this space, that were oc- 
cupied by the principal personages of the village 
and its vicinity. This distinction was rather a 
gratuitous concession, made by the poorer and less 
polished part of the population, than a right claim- 
ed by the favoured few. One bench was occupied 
by the party of Judge Temple, including his daugh- 
ter, and, with the exception of Dr. Todd, no one 
else appeared willing to incur the imputation of 
pride, by taking a seat in what was, literally, the 
high place of the tabernacle. 

Richard filled a chair, that was placed behind 
another table, in the capacity of clerk ; while Ben- 
jamin, after heaping sundry logs on the fires, posted 
himself nigh by, in reserve for any movement that 
might require his co-operation. 

It would be greatly -exceeding our limits to at- 
tempt a description of the congregation, for their 
dresses were as various as there were individuals. 
Some one article, of more than usual finery, and 
perhaps the relic of other days, was to be seen 
about most of the females, in connexion with the 
coarse attire of the woods. This, wore a faded 
silk, that had gone through at least three genera- 
tions, over coarse, woollen, black stockings ; that, 
a shawl, whose dies were as numerous as those of 
the rainbow, over an awkwardly fitting gown, of 
rough, brown “ woman’s wear.” In short, each 
one exhibited some favourite article, and all ap- 
peared in their best, both men and women ; while 
the ground-works in dress, in either sex, were the 


THE PIONEERS. 


157 


coarse fabrics manufactured within their own dwell- 
ings. One man appeared in the dress of a volun- 
teer company of artillery, of which he had been a 
member, in the ‘‘ down-countries,” precisely for 
no other reason, than because it was the best suit, 
he had. Several, particularly of the younger 
men, displayed pantaloons of blue, edged with red 
cloth down the seams, part of the equipments of 
the “ Templeton Light Infantry,” from little va- 
nity to be seen in “ boughten clothes.” There 
was also one man in a “ rifle frock,” with its 
fringes and folds of spotless white, striking a chill 
to the heart with the idea of its coolness ; although 
the thick coat of brown “home made,” that was 
concealed beneath, preserved to the wearer a pro- 
per degree of warmth. 

There was a marked uniformity of expression 
in countenance, especially in that half of the con- 
gregation, w’ho did not enjoy the advantages of the 
polish of the village. A sallow skin, that indicated 
nothing but exposure, was common to all, as was 
an air of great decency and attention, mingled, 
generally, with an expression of shrewdness, and, 
in the present instance, of active curiosity. Now 
and then a face and dress w^ere to be seen, among 
the congregation, that differed entirely from this 
description. If pock-marked, and florid, with gai- 
tered legs, and a coat that snugly fitted the person 
of the w^earer, it was surely an English emigrant, 
who had bent his steps to this retired quarter of 
the globe. If hard-featured, and without colour, 
wdth high cheek bones, it was a native of Scot- 
land, in similar circumstances. The short, black- 
eyed man, with a cast of the swarthy Spaniard in 
his face, who rose repeatedly, to make room for 
the belles of the village, as they entered, was a 
son of Erin, who had lately left off his pack, and 

VOL. I. 14 


158 


THE PIONEERS. 


become a stationary trader in Templeton. In short, 
half the nations in the north of Europe had their 
representatives in this assembly, though all had 
closely assimilated themselves to the Americans, 
in dress and appearance, except the Englishman. 
He, indeed, not only adhered to his native cus- 
toms, in attire and living, but usually drove his 
plough, among the stumps, in the same manner as 
he had before done, on the plains of Norfolk, until 
dear-bought experience taught him the useful les- 
son, that a sagacious people knew what was suited 
to their circumstances, better than a casual ob- 
server; or a sojourner, who was, perhaps, too 
much prejudiced to compare, and, perad venture, 
too conceited to learn. 

Elizabeth soon discovered that she divided the 
attention of the congregation, equally with Mr. 
Grant. Timidity, therefore, confined her obser- 
vation of the appearances which we have describ- 
ed, to stolen glances ; but, as the stamping of feet 
was now becoming less frequent, and even the 
coughing, and other little preliminaries of a con- 
gregation settling themselves down into reverential 
attention, were ceasing, she felt emboldened to 
look around her. Gradually all noises diminished, 
until the suppressed cough denoted that it was 
necessary to avoid singularity, and the most pro- 
found stillness pervaded the apartment. The snap- 
ping of the fires, as they threw a powerful heat 
into the room, was alone heard, and each face, and 
every eye, were turned in expectation on Ihe 
divine. 

At this moment, a heavy stamping of feet was 
heard in the passage below, as if a new comer was 
releasing his limbs from the snow, that was neces- 
sarily clinging to the legs of a pedestrian. It was 
succeeded by no audible tread ; but directly Mo- 


THE PIONEERS. 


159 


began, followed by the Leather-stocking and the 
young hunter, made his appearance. Their foot- 
steps would not have been heard, as they trod the 
apartment in their moccasins, but for the silence 
which prevailed. 

The Indian moved with great gravity across the 
floor, and, observing a vacant seat next to the 
Judge, he took it, in a manner that manifested his 
sense of his own dignity. Here, drawing his 
blanket closely around him, so as partly to con- 
ceal his countenance, he remained during the ser- 
vice, immoveable, but deeply attentive. Natty 
passed the place, that was so freely taken by his 
red companion, and seated himself on one end of 
a log that was lying near the fire, where he con- 
tinued, with his rifle standing between his legs, ab- 
sorbed in reflections, seemingly, of no very pleasing 
nature. The youth found a seat among the con- 
gregation, and another dead silence prevailed. 

Mr. Grant now arose, and commenced his ser- 
vice, with the sublime declaration of the Hebrew 
prophet — “ The Lord is in his holy temple ; let all 
the earth keep silence before him.” The example 
of Mr. Jones was unnecessary, to teach the congre- 
gation to rise : the solemnity of the manner of the 
divine effected this as by magic. After a short 
pause, Mr. Grant proceeded with the solemn and 
winning exhortation of his service. Nothing was 
heard but the deep, though affectionate, tones of 
the reader, as he slowly went through this exordi- 
um ; until, something unfortunately striking the 
mind of Richard as incomplete, he left his place, 
and w^alked on tip-toe from the room. 

When the clergyman bent his knees in prayer 
and confession, the congregation so far imitated his 
example, as to resume their seats; whence no suc- 
ceeding effort of the divine, during the evening, was 


160 


THE PIONEERS. 


able to remove them in a body. Some rose, at 
times, but by far the larger part continued unbend- 
ing ; observant, it is true, but it was thev kind ot 
observation that regarded the ceremony as a spec- 
tacle, rather than a worship in which all were to 
participate. Thus deserted by his clerk, Mr. Grant 
continued to read ; but no response was audible. 
The short and solemn pause, that succeeded each 
petition, was made ; still no voice repeated the 
eloquent language of the prayer. 

The lips of Elizabeth moved, but they moved 
in vain ; and, accustomed, as she was, to the ser- 
vice in the churches of the metropolis, she was 
beginning to feel the awkwardness of the circum- 
stance most painfully, when a soft, low, female 
voice repeated after the priest, “We have left un- 
done those things which we ought to have done.” 
Startled, at finding one of her own sex in that 
place, who could rise superior to their natural ti- 
midity, Miss Temple turned her eyes in the direc- 
tion of the humble penitent. She observed a 
young female, on her knees, but a short distance 
from lier, with her meek face humbly bent over 
her book. The appearance of this stranger, for 
such she was, entirely, to Elizabeth, was light and 
fragile. Her dress, without being either rich or 
fashionable, was neat and becoming ; and her 
countenance, though pale, and slightly agitated, 
excited deep interest, by its sweet, and perhaps 
melancholy expression. A second and third re- 
sponse were made by this juvenile assistant, when 
the rich, manly sounds of a youthful, male voice, 
proceeded from the opposite part of the room. 
Miss Temple knew the tones of the young hunter 
instantly, and, struggling to overcome her own 
diffidence, she added her low voice to the number. 

All this time, Benjamin stood thuitibing the 


THE PIONEERS. 


161 


leaves of a prayer-book with great industry, but 
some unexpected difficulties prevented his finding 
the place. Before the divine reached the close of 
the confession, however, Richard re-appeared at 
the door, and, as he moved lightly across the room, 
he took up the response, in a voice that betrayed 
no other concern than that of not being heard. In 
his hand he carried a small open hox, with the 
figures of “ 8 by 10” written in black paint, on one 
of its sides ; which having placed in the pulpit, 
apparently as a footstool for the divine, he return- 
ed to his station in time to say, most sonorously, 
“ amen.” The eyes of the congregation, very 
naturally, were turned to the windows, as Mr. 
Jones entered wdth this singular load, and then, as 
if accustomed to his “ general agency,” were again 
bent on the priest, in close and curious attention. 

The long experience of Mr. Grant had admira- 
bly qualified him to perform with success his pre- 
sent duty. He well understood the character of 
his listeners, who were mostly a primitive people 
in their habits ; and wffio, being a good deal ad- 
dicted to subtleties and nice distinctions in their 
religious opinions, viewed the introduction into 
their spiritual w'orship of any such temporal assist- 
ance as form, not only with jealousy, but frequent- 
ly with disgust. He had acquired much of his 
knowledge from studying the great book of hu- 
man nature, as it lay open in the world ; and, 
knowing how dangerous it was to contend with ig- 
norance, uniformly endeavoured to avoid dictating, 
where his better reason taught him it was the 
most prudent to attempt to lead. HiS orthodoxy 
had no dependence on his cassock ; he could pray, 
with fervour and with faith, if circumstances re- 
quired it, without the assistance of his clerk ; and 
he had even been known to preach a most evan- 
14 ^ 


162 


THE PIOKEERS. 


gelical sermon, in the winning manner of native 
eloquence, without the aid of a cambric handker- 
chief. 

In the present instance he yielded, in many 
places, to the prejudices of his congregation ; and 
when he had ended, there was not one of his new 
hearers, who did not think the ceremonies less 
papal and offensive, and more conformant to his 
or her own notions of devout worship, than they 
had been led to expect from a service of forms. 
Truly, Richard found in the divine, during the 
evening, a most powerful co-operator in his reli- 
gious schemes. In preaching, Mr. Grant endea- 
voured to steer a middle course, between the 
mystical doctrines of those sublimated creeds, 
which daily involve their professors in the most 
absurd contradictions, and those fluent rules for 
moral government, which would reduce the Sa- 
viour to a level with the teacher of a school of 
ethics. Doctrine it was necessary for him to 
preach, for nothing less would -have satisfied the 
disputatious people who were his listeners, and 
who would have interpreted silence on his part, 
into a tacit acknowledgment of either the super- 
ficial nature of his creed, or his own inability to 
defend it. We have already said that, among the 
endless variety of their religious instructors, the 
settlers were accustomed to hear every denomi- 
nation urge its own distinctive precepts ; and to 
have found one indifferent to this interesting sub- 
ject, would have been destructive to his influence. 
But Mr. Grant so happily blended the universally 
received opinions of the Christian faith, with the 
^ogmas of his own church, that, although none 
were entirely exempt from the influence of his 
reasons, very few' took any alarm at the innova- 
tion. 


THE PIONEERS. 


163 


“ When we consider the great diversity of the 
human character, influenced as it is by education, 
by opportunity, and by the physical and moral con- 
ditions of the creature, my dear hearers,” he ear- 
nestly concluded, “ it can excite no surprise, 
that creeds, so very different in their tendencies, 
should grow out of a religion, revealed, it is true, 
but whose revelations are obscured by the lapse 
of ages, and whose doctrines were, after the fa- 
shion of the countries in which they were first pro- 
mulgated, frequently delivered in parables, and in 
a language abounding in metaphors, and loaded 
with figures. On points where the learned have, 
in purity of heart, been compelled to differ, the 
unlettered wdll necessarily be at variance. But, 
happily for us, my brethren, the fountain of divine 
love flows from a source too pure to admit of pol- 
lution in its course ; it extends, to those who drink 
of its vivifying waters, the peace of the righteous, 
and life everlasting ; it endures through all time, 
and it pervades creation. If there be mystery in 
its workings, it is the mystery of a Divinity. With 
a clear knowledge of the nature, the might, and 
majesty of God, there might be conviction, but 
there could be no faith. If we are required to be- 
lieve in doctrines that seem not in conformity with 
the deductions of human wisdom, let us never for- 
get, that such is the mandate of a wisdom that is 
infinite. It is sufficient for us, that enough is de- 
veloped to point our path aright, and to direct our 
wandering steps to that portal, w'hich shall open 
on the light of an eternal day. Then, indeed, it 
may be humbly hoped, that the film, which has 
been spread by the subtleties of earthly arguments, 
will be dissipated by the spiritual light of heaven ; 
and that our hour of probation, by the aid of divine 
grace, being once passed in triumph, will be fol- 


164 


THE PIONEERS. 


lowed by an eternity of intelligence, and endless 
ages of fruition. All that is now obscure shall be- 
come plain to our expanded faculties ; and what to 
our present senses may seem irreconcilable to 
our limited notions of mercy, of justice, and of love, 
shall stand, irradiated by the light of truth, con- 
fessedly the suggestions of Omniscience, and the 
acts of an All-powerful Benevolence. 

“ What a lesson of humility, my brethren, might 
not each of us obtain, from a review of his infant 
hours, and the recollection of his juvenile passions ’ 
How differently do the same acts of parental ri- 
gour appear, in the eyes of the suffering child, and 
of the chastened man ! When the sophist would 
supplant, with the wild theories of his worldly wis- 
dom, the positive mandates of inspiration, let him 
remember the expansion of his own feeble intel- 
lects, and pause — let him feel the wisdom of God, 
in what is partially concealed, as well as in that 
which is revealed ; — in short, let him substitute hu- 
mility for pride of reason— let him have faith, and 
live ! 

‘‘ The consideration of this subject is full of con- 
solation, my hearers, and does not fail to bring 
with it lessons of humility and of profit, that, duly 
improved, would both chasten the heart, and 
strengthen the feeble-minded man in his course. 
It is a blessed consolation, to be able to lay the 
misdoubtings of our arrogant nature at the threshold 
of the dwelling-place of the Deity, from whence 
they shall be swept away, at the great opening of 
the portal, like the mists of the morning before the 
rising sun. It teaches us a lesson of humility, by 
impressing us with the imperfection of human 
powers, and by warning us of the many weak 
points, where we are open to the attacks of the 
great enemy of our race ; it proves to us, that we 


THE PIONEERS. 


165 


are in danger of being weak, wlien our vanity 
would fain sooth us into the belief that we are 
most strong ; it forcibly points out to us the vain- 
glory of intellect, and shows us the vast difference 
between a saving faith, and the corollaries of a phi- 
losophical theology ; and it teaches us to reduce 
our self-examination to the test of good works. 
By good works, must be understood the fruits of 
repentance, the chiefest of which is charity. Not 
that charity only, which causes us to help the 
needy and comfort the suffering, but that feeling 
of universal philanthropy, which, by teaching us to 
love, causes us to judge with lenity, all men ; strik- 
ing at the root of self-righteousness, and warning 
us to be sparing of our condemnation of others, 
while our own salvation is not yet secure. 

“ The lesson of expediency, my brethren, which 
I would gather from the consideration of this sub- 
ject, is most strongly inculcated by our humility. 
On the leading and essential points of our faith, 
there is but little difference, among those classes of 
Christians who acknowledge the attributes of the 
Saviour, and depend on his mediation. But here- 
sies have polluted every church, and schisms are 
the fruits of disputation. In order to arrest these 
dangers, and to ensure the union of his followers, it 
would seem that Christ had established his visible 
church, and delegated the ministry. Wise and 
holy men, the fathers of our religion, have expend- 
ed their labours in clearing what was revealed from 
the obscurities of language, and the results of their 
experience and researches have been embodied in 
the form of evangelical discipline. That this dis- 
cipline must be salutary, is evident from the view 
of the weakness of human nature that we have al- 
ready taken : and that it may be profitable to us, 
and all who listen to its precepts and its liturgy. 


166 


THE PIONEERS. 


may God, in his infinite wisdom, grant. — And now 
to,” &c. 

With this ingenious reference to his own forms 
and ministry, Mr. Grant concluded his discourse. 
The most profound attention had been paid to the 
sermon during the whole of its delivery, although 
the prayers had not been received with such a per- 
fect demonstration of respect. This was by no 
means an intended slight of that liturgy, to which 
the divine had alluded, but was the habit of a peo- 
ple, who owed their very existence, as a distinct 
nation, to the doctrinal character of their ancestors. 
Sundry looks of private dissatisfaction were ex- 
changed between Hiram and one or two of the 
leading members of the conference^ but the feeling 
went no farther at that time ; and the congregation, 
after receiving the blessing of Mr. Grant, dispersed 
in silence, and with great decorum. 


CHAPTER XII. 


T our creeds and dogmas of a learned church 
May build a fabric, fair with moral beauty ; 
But it would seem, that the strong hand of Gojl 
Can, only, ’rase the devil from the heart. 

Duo. 


While the congregation was separating, Mr. 
Grant approached the place where Elizabeth and 
her father were seated, leading the youthful female, 
whom we have mentioned in the preceding chap- 
ter, and presented her as his daughter. Her re- 
ception was as cordial and frank as the manners of 
the country, and the value of good society, could 
render it ; the two young women feeling, instantly, 
that they were necessary to the comfort of each 
other. The Judge, to whom the clergyman’s 
daughter was also a stranger, was pleased to find 
one, who, from habits, sex, and years, could proba- 
bly contribute largely to the pleasures of his own 
child, during her first privations, on her removal 
from the associations of a city to the solitude of 
Templeton; while Elizabeth, who had been forcibly 
struck with the sweetness and devotion of the 
youthful suppliant, removed the slight embarrass- 
ment of the timid stranger, by the ease and finish 
of her own manners. They were at once acquaint- 
ed, and, during the ten minutes that the “ acade- 
my” was clearing, engagements were made be- 


168 


THE PIONEERS, 


tween the young people, not only for their pursuits 
during the succeeding day, after the service, but 
they would probably have embraced in their ar- 
rangements half of the winter, had not the divine 
interrupted them, by saying — 

“ Gently, gently, my dear Miss Temple, or you 
will make my girl too dissipated. You forget that 
she is my housekeeper, and that my domestic af- 
fairs must remain unattended to, should Louisa ac- 
cept of half the kind offers that you are so good as 
to make her.” 

“ And why should they not be neglected entire- 
ly, sir.^” interrupted Elizabeth. “ There are but 
two of you ; and certain I am that my father’s 
house will not only contain you both, but will open 
its doors spontaneously, to receive such guests. 
Society is a good, not to be rejected on account of 
cold forms, in this wilderness, sir ; and I have of- 
ten heard my father say, that hospitality is not a 
virtue in a new country, the favour being conferred 
on the host by the guest.” 

“ The manner in which Judge Temple exercises 
its rites would confirm this opinion,” said the di- ^ 
vine ; “ but we must not trespass too freely. 
Doubt not that you will see us often, my child 
particularly, during the frequent visits that I shall 
be compelled to make to the distant parts of the 
country. But to obtain an influence with such a 
people,” he continued, glancing his eyes towards 
the few, who were still lingering, as curious ob- 
servers of the interview, “ a clergyman must not 
awaken envy or distrust, by dwelling under so 
splendid a roof as that of Judge Temple.” 

“ You like the roof, then, Mr. Grant,” cried Ri- 
chard, who had been directing the extinguishment 
of the fires, and other little necessary duties, and 
who now approached, so as to hear the close of the 


THE PIONEERS. 169 

divine’s speech — I am glad to find one man of 
taste at last. Here’s ’duke, now, pretends to call 
it by every abusive name he can invent ; but 
though ’duke is a very tolerable Judge, sir, he is a 
very poor carpenter, let me tell him. Well, sir, 
well, I think we may say, without boasting, that 
the service was as well performed this evening as 
you often see ; 1 think, quite as well as I ever 
knew it to be done in old Trinity — that is, if we 
except the organ. But there is the schoolmaster 
leads a psalm with a very good air. I used to lead 
myself, but latterly 1 have sung nothing but bass. 
There is a good deal of science to be shown in the 
bass, and it affords a fine opportunity to show off a 
full, deep voice. Benjamin, too, sings a good bass, 
though he is often out in the words. Didyou ever 
hear Benjamin sing the ‘ Bay of Biscay, O ?’ ” 

“ 1 believe he gave us part of it this evening,” 
said Marmaduke, laughing. ‘‘ There was, now 
and then, a fearful quaver in his voice, and it seems 
that Mr. Penguillian is like most others who do one 
thing particularly well : he knows nothing else. He 
has, certainly, a wonderful partiality to one tune, 
and he has a prodigious self-confidence in that one, 
for he delivers himself like a north-wester sweep- 
ing across the lake. But come, gentlemen, our 
way is clear, and the sleigh w^aits. — Good evening, 
Mr. Grant. Good night, young lady — remember 
that you dine beneath the Corinthian roof to-mor- 
row, with Elizabeth.” 

The parties separated, Richard holding a close 
dissertation with Mr. Le Quoi, as they descended 
the stairs, on the subject of psalmody, which he 
closed by a violent eulogium on the air of the 
Bay of Biscay, 0,” as particularly connected with 
his friend Benjamin’s execution. 

During the preceding dialogue, Mohegan had 
VOL. 1 . 15 


170 


THE PIONEERS. 


retained his seat, with his head shrouded in his 
blanket, as seemingly inattentive to surrounding 
objects, as the departing congregation was, itself, 
to the presence of the aged chief. Natty, /also, 
continued on the log, where he had first placed 
himself, with his head resting on one of his hands, 
while the other held the rifle, which was thrown 
carelessly across his lap. His countenance ex- 
pressed extraordinary uneasiness, and the occa- 
sional unquiet glances, that he had thrown around 
him during the service, plainly indicated some un- 
usual causes for unhappiness. His continuing 
seated was, however, from respect to the Indian 
chief, to whom he paid the utmost deference, on all 
occasions, although it was mingled with the rough 
manner of a hunter. 

The young companion of these two ancient in- 
habitants of the forest remained also, standing be- 
fore the extinguished brands, probably from an un- 
willingness to depart without his comrades. The 
room was now deserted by all but this group, the 
divine, and his daughter. As the party from the 
Mansion-house disappeared, John arose, and drop- 
ping the blanket from his head, he shook back the 
mass of black hair from his face, and approaching 
Mr. Grant, he extended his hand, and said so- 
lemnly — 

“ Father, I thank you. The words that have 
been said, since the rising moon, have gone up- 
ward, and the Great Spirit is glad. What you have 
told your children, they will remember, and be 
good.” He paused a moment, and then, elevating 
himself to all the grandeur of an Indian chief, he 
added — “ If Chingachgook lives to travel towards 
the setting sun, after his tribe, and the Great Spirit 
carries him over the lakes and mountains, with 
the breath in his body, he will tell his people the 


THE PIONEERS. 


171 


good talk he has heard ; and they will believe him ; 
for who can say that Mohegan has ever lied 

‘‘ Let him place his dependence on the goodness 
of Divine mercy,” said Mr. Grant, to whom the 
proud consciousness of the Indian sounded a little 
heterodox, “ and it never will desert him. When 
the heart is tilled with love to God, there is no 
room left for sin. — But, young man, to you I owe 
not only an obligation, in common with those you 
saved this evening, on the mountain, but my thanks, 
for your respectful and pious manner, in assisting 
in the service, at a most embarrassing moment. I 
should be happy to see you sometimes, at my 
dwelling, when, perhaps, my conversation may 
strengthen you in the path which you appear to 
have chosen. It is so unusual to find one of your 
age and appearance, in these woods,’ at all acquaint- 
ed with our holy liturgy, that it lessens at once the 
distance between us, and I feel that we are no 
longer strangers. You seem quite at home in the 
service : I did not perceive that you had even a 
book, although good Mr. Jones had laid several in 
different parts of the room.” 

“ It would be strange, if I were ignorant of the 
service of our church, sir,” returned the youth, 
modestly, “ for I was baptized in its communion, 
and I have never yet attended public worship else- 
where. For me to use the forms of any other de- 
nomination, would be as singular as our own have 
proved to the people here this evening.” 

“ You give me great pleasure to hear you, my 
dear sir,” cried the divine, seizing the other by the 
hand, and shaking it cordially.— You will go home 
with me now — indeed you must — my child has yet 
to thank you for saving my life. I will listen to 
no apologies. This worthy Indian, and your friend 
there, will accompany us. — Bless me ! to think that 


172 


THE PIONEERS. 


he has arrived at manhood, in this country, with- 
out entering a dissenting meeting-house !” 

“ No, no,” interrupted the Leather-stocking, 
“ I must away to the wigwam : there’s work there, 
that mus’n’t be forgotten, for all your churchings 
and merry-makings. Let the lad go with you in 
welcome ; he is used to keeping company with 
ministers, and talking of such matters ; so is old 
John, who was christianized by the Moravians, 
about the time of the old war. But I am a plain, 
unlarned man, that has sarved the king and his 
country, in his day, ag’in the French and savages, 
but never so much as looked into a book, or larnt 
a letter oL scholarship, in my born days. I’ve ne- 
ver seen the use of sitch in-door kind of work, 
though I have lived to be partly bald, and, in my 
time, have killed two hundred beaver in a season, 
and that without counting the other game. — If you 
mistrust what I am telling you, you can ask Chin- 
gachgook there, for I did it in the heart of the De- 
laware country, and the old man is knowing to the 
truth of every word I say.” 

“ I doubt not, my friend, that you have been 
both a valiant soldier and skilful hunter, in your 
day,” said the divine ; but more is wanting, to 
prepare you for that end which approaches. You 
may have heard the maxim, that ^ young men may 
die, but that old men must."* ” 

“ I’m sure I never was so great a fool as to ex- 
pect to live for ever,” said Natty, giving one of his 
silent laughs : “ no man need do that, who trails 
the savages through the woods, as I have done, and 
lives, for the hot months, on the lake streams. I’ve 
a strong constitution, I must say that for myself, as 
is plain to be seen ; for I’ve drunk the Onondaga 
water a hundred times, while I’ve been watching 
the deer-licks, when the fever-an-agy seeds was to 


THE PIONEERS. 


173 


be seen in it, as plain and as plenty as you can see 
the rattle-snakes on old Crumhorn. But then, 1 
never expected to hold out for ever ; though there’s 
them living, who have seen the Garman Flats a 
wilderness ; ay ! and them that’s lamed, and ac- 
quainted with religion too ; though you might look 
a week now, and not find even the stump of a pine 
on them ; and that’s a wood that lasts in the ground 
the better part of a hundred years. ^ 

“ This is but time, my good friend,” returned 
Mr. Grant, who began to take an interest in the 
welfare of his new acquaintance, ‘‘ but it is for 
eternity that I would have you prepare. It is in- 
cumbent on you to attend places of public worship, 
as I am pleased to see that you have done this 
evening. Would it not be heedless in you to start 
on a day’s toil of hard hunting, and leave your 
ramrod and flint behind you ?” 

“ It must be a young hand in the woods,” in- 
terrupted Natty, with another laugh, “ that didn’t 
know how to dress a rod out of an ash sapling, or 
find a fire-stone in the mountains. No, no, I never 
expected to live for ever ; but I see, times be al- 
tering in these mountains from what they was 
thirty years ago, or, for that matter, ten years. But 
might makes right, and the law is stronger than an 
old man, whether he is one that has much laming, 
or only one like me, that is better now at standing 
at the passes than in following the hounds, as I 
once used to could. Heigh-ho ! I never know’d 
preaching come into a settlement, but it made game 
scearce, and raised the price of gun-powder ; and 
that’s a thing that’s not as easily made as a ram- 
rod, or an Indian flint.” 

The divine, perceiving that he had given his op- 
ponent an argument, by his own unfortunate se- 
lection of a comparison, very prudently relinquished 
15 * 


174 


THE PIONEERS. 


the controversy, for the present ; although he was 
fully determined to resume it at a more happy mo- 
ment. Repeating his request to the young hunter, 
with great earnestness, the youth and Indian con- 
sented to accompany him and his daughter to the 
dwelling, that the care of Mr. Jones had provided 
for their temporary residence. Leather-stocking 
persevered in his intention of returning to the hut. 
and at the door of the building they separated. 

After following the course of one of the streets 
of the village for a short distance, Mr. Grant, who 
led the way, turned into a field, through a pair of 
open bars, and entered a foot-path, of but sufficient 
width to admit of only one person to walk in it, at 
a time. The moon had gained a height that ena- 
bled her to throw her rays nearly perpendicularly 
on the valley ; and the distinct shadows of the 
party flitted along on the banks of the silver snow, 
like the presence of aerial figures, gliding to their 
appointed place of meeting. The night still con- 
tinued intensely cold, although not a breath of wind 
was to be felt. The path was beaten so hard, that 
the gentle female, who made one of the party, 
moved with ease along its windings ; though the 
frost emitted a low creaking, at the impression of 
even her light footsteps. 

The clergyman in his dark dress of broad-cloth, 
with his mild, benevolent countenance occasionally 
turned towards his companions, expressing that 
look’of subdued care, that was its characteristic, 
presented the first object of this singularly consti- 
tuted group. Next to him moved the Indian, with 
his hair falling about his face, his head uncovered, 
and the rest of his form concealed beneath his 
blanket. As his swarthy visage, with its muscles 
fixed in rigid composure, was seen under the light 
of the moon which struck his face obliquely, he 


THE PIONEERS. - 


175 


seemed a picture of resigned old age, on whom the 
storms of winter had beaten in vain, for the greater 
part of a century ; but when in turning his head, 
the rays fell directly on his dark, fiery eyes, they 
told a tale of passions unrestrained, and of thoughts 
free as the air he breathed. The slight person of 
Miss Grant, which followed next, and which was 
but too thinly clad for the severity of the season, 
formed a marked contrast to the wild attire, and 
uneasy glances of the Delaware chief ; and more 
than once, during their walk, the young hunter, 
himself no insignificant figure in the group, was led 
to consider the difference in the human form, as 
the face of Mohegan, and the gentle countenance 
of Miss Grant, with eyes that rivalled the soft hue 
of the sky in colour, met his view, at the instant 
that each turned, to throw a glance at the splendid 
orb, that lighted their path. Their way, which 
led through fields, that lay at some distance in the 
rear of the houses, was cheered by a conversation, 
that flagged or became animated with the subject. 
The first to speak was the divine, 

“ Really,” he said, it is so singular a circum- 
stance to meet with one of your age, that has not 
been induced by an idle curiosity to visit any other 
church than the one in which he has been educat- 
ed, that I feel a strong curiosity to know the his- 
tory of a life so fortunately reguIated,^ — Your edu- 
cation must have been an excellent one ; as indeed 
is evident from your manners and language. Of 
which of the states are you a native, Mr, Edwards ? 
for such, I believe, was the name that you gave to 
Judge Temple.” % 

“Of this” — 

“ Of this ! I was at a loss to conjecture, from 
your dialect, which does not partake, particularly, 
of the peculiarities of any country with which I 


176 


THE PIONEERS. 


am acquainted. You have, then, resided moch in 
the cities, for no other part of this country is so for- 
tunate as to possess the constant enjoyment of our 
excellent liturgy.” 

The young hunter smiled, as he listened to the 
divine while he so clearly betrayed from what part 
of the country he had come himself ; but for rea- 
sons, probably, connected with his present situa- 
tion, he made no answer. 

“ I am delighted to meet with you, my young 
friend, for I think an ingenuous mind, such as I 
doubt not yours must be, will exhibit all the ad- 
vantages of a settled doctrine and devout liturgy. 
You perceive how I was compelled to bend to the 
humours of my hearers this evening. Good Mr. 
Jones wished me to read the communion, and, in 
fact, all the morning service ; but, happily, the ca- 
nons do not require this in an evening. It would 
have wearied a new congregation ; but to-morrow 
I purpose administering the sacrament. Do you 
commune, my young friend ?” 

“ I believe not, sir,” returned the youth, with a 
little embarrassment, that was not at all diminish- 
ed by Miss Grant’s pausing involuntarily, and turn- 
ing her eyes on him in evident surprise — “ 1 fear 
that I am not qualified ; I have never yet approach- 
ed the altar ; neither would I wish to do it, while 
I find so much of the world clinging to my heart, 
as I now experience.” 

‘‘ Each must judge for himself,” said Mr. Grant ; 
“ though I should think that a youth who had ne- 
ver been blown about by the wind of false doc- 
trines, and who has 'enjoyed the advantages of our 
liturgy for so many years in its purity, might safely 
come. Yet, sir, it is a solemn festival, which none 
should celebrate, until there is reason to hope it is 
not mockery. I observed this evening, in your 


THE PIONEERS. 


177 


manner to Judge Temple, a resentment that bor- 
dered on one of the worst of human passions. — We 
will cross this brook on the ice : it must bear us 
all, I think, in safety. — Be careful not to slip, my 
child.” While speaking, he descended a little bank 
by the path, and crossed one of the small streams 
that poured their waters into the lake ; and turn- 
ing to see his daughter pass, observed that the 
youth had advanced, and was kindly directing her 
footsteps. When all were safely over, he moved 
up the opposite bank, and continued his discourse. 
— “ It was wrong, my dear sir, very wrong, to suf- 
fer such feelings to rise, under any circumstances, 
and especially in the present, where the evil was 
not intended.” 

“ There is good in the talk of ray father,” said 
Mohegan, stopping short, and causing those who 
were behind him to pause also ; “ it is the talk of 
Miquon. The white man may do as his fathers 
have told him ; but the ‘ Young Eagle’ has the 
blood of a Delaware chief in his veins : it is red, 
and the stain it makes can only be washed out with 
the blood of a Mingo.”* 

Mr. Grant was surprised by the interruption of 
the Indian, and, stopping, faced the speaker. His 
mild features were confronted to the fierce and de- 
termined looks of the chief, and expressed all the 
horror that he felt at hearing such sentiments from 
one who professed the religion of his Saviour. 
Raising his hands to a level with his head, he ex- 
claimed — 

“ John, John ! is this the religion that you have 
learned from the Moravians ? But no — I will not 
be so uncharitable as to suppose it. They are a 
pious, a gentle, and a mild people, and could never 


* Hia enemy. 


178 


THE PIONEERS. 


tolerate these passions. Listen to the language of 
the Redeemer — ‘ But I say unto you, love your 
enemies ; bless them that curse you ; do good to 
them that hate you ; and pray for them that de- 
spitefully use you and persecute you.’ — This is the 
command of God, John, and without striving to 
cultivate such feelings, no man can see him.” 

The Indian heard the exclamation of the divine 
with attention ; the unusual fire of his eye gradual 
ly softened, and his muscles relaxed into their or- 
dinary composure ; but, slightly shaking his head, 
he motioned with dignity for Mr. Grant to resume 
his walk, and followed himself again in silence. 
The agitation of the divine caused him to move 
with unusual rapidity along the deep path, and the 
Indian, without any apparent exertion, kept an 
equal pace ; but the young hunter observed the 
female to linger in her steps, until a trifling dis- 
tance intervened between the two former and the 
latter. Struck by the circumstance, and not perceiv- 
ing any new' impediment to retard her footsteps, 
the youth made a tender of his assistance, by say- 
ing— 

“You are fatigued. Miss Grant; the snow yields 
to the foot, and you are unequal to the strides of 
us men. Step on the crust, I entreat you, and take 
the help of my arm. Yonder light is, I believe, 
the house of your father ; but it seems yet at some 
distance.” 

“ I am quite equal to the walk,” returned a low, 
tremulous voice ; “ but I am startled by the man- 
ner of that Indian chief. Oh ! his eye was horrid, 
as he turned to the moon, in speaking to my father. 
But I forget, sir ; he is your friend, and by his 
language may be your relative ; and yet of you I 
do not feel afraid.” 

The young man stepped on the bank of snow', 


THE PIONEERS. 


179 


which firmly sustained his weight, and by a gentle 
effort induced his companion to follow him. Draw- 
ing her arm through his own, he lifted his cap from 
his head allowing his dark locks to flow in rich 
curls over his open brow, and walked by her side, 
with an air of conscious pride, as if inviting an ex- 
amination of his inmost thoughts. — Louisa took 
but a furtive glance at his person, and moved qui- 
etly along, at a rate that was greatly quickened 
by the aid of his arm. 

‘‘You are but little acquainted with this pecu- 
liar people. Miss Grant,” he said, “ or you would 
know that revenge is a virtue with an Indian. 
They are taught, from infancy upward, to believe 
it a duty, never to allow an injury to pass unre- 
sisted ; and nothing, but the stronger claims of 
hospitality, can guard one against their resent- 
ments, where they have power to act their will.” 

“ Surely, sir,” said Miss Grant, involuntarily 
withdrawing her arm from his, “ you have not been 
educated with such unholy sentiments.” 

“ It might be a sufficient answer to your excel- * 
lent father, to say, that I was educated in the 
church,” he returned ; “ but to you I will add, 
that I have been taught deep and practical lessons 
of forgiveness. I believe that, on this subject, I 
have but little cause to reproach myself ; but it 
shall be my endeavour that there yet be less.” 

While speaking, he stopped, and stood with his 
arm again proffered to her assistance. As he end- 
ed, she quietly accepted his offer, and they resum- 
ed their walk. 

Mr. Grant and Mohegan had reached the door 
of the former’s residence, and stood waiting near 
its threshold for the arrival of their younger com- 
panions. The former was earnestly occupied, in 


180 


THE PIONEERS. 


endeavouring to correct, by his precepts, the evil 
propensities that he had discovered in the Indian, 
during their conversation ; which the latter heard 
in profound, but respectful attention. On the ar-. 
rival of the young hunter and the lady, they en- 
tered the building. 

The house stood at some distance from the vil- 
lage, in the centre of a field, surrounded by stumps, 
that were peering above the snow, bearing caps 
of pure white nearly two feet in thickness. Not 
a tree or a shrub was nigh it ; but the house, ex- 
ternally, exhibited that cheerless, unfinished as- 
pect, which is so common to the hastily-erected 
dwellings of a new country. The uninviting cha- 
racter of its outside was, however, happily con- 
trasted by the exquisite neatness, and comfortable 
warmth, within. 

They entered an apartment that was fitted as a 
parlour, though the large fire-place, with its culi- 
nary arrangements, betrayed the domestic uses to 
which it was occasionally applied. The bright 
blaze from the hearth rendered the light, that pro- 
ceeded from the candle that Louisa produced, un- 
necessary; for the scanty furniture of the room 
was easily seen and examined by the former. The 
floor was covered, in the centre, by a carpet made 
of rags, a species of manufacture that was, then, 
and yet continues to be, much in use, in the inte- 
rior ; while its edges, that were exposed to view, 
were of unspotted cleanliness. There was a tri- 
fling air of better life, in a tea-table and work stand, 
as well as in an old-fashioned mahogany book-case; 
but the chairs, the dining-table, and the rest of 
the furniture, were of the plainest and cheapest 
construction. Against the walls were hung a few 
specimens of needlework and drawing,# the former 


THE PIONEERS. 


181 


executed with great neatness, though of somewhat 
equivocal merit in their designs, while the latter 
were strikingly deficient in both. 

One of the former represented a tomb, with a 
youthful female weeping over it, exhibiting a 
church with arched windows, in the back-ground. 
On the tomb were the names, with the dates of 
the births and deaths, of several individuals, all of 
whom bore the name of Grant. An extremely 
cursory glance at this record, was sufficient to dis- 
cover to the young hunter the domestic state of 
the divine. He there read, that he was a widower, 
and that the innocent and timid maiden, who had 
been his companion, was the only surviver of six 
children. The knowledge of the dependence, 
which each of these meek Christians had on the 
other, for happiness, threw an additional charm 
around the gentle, but kind attentions, which the 
daughter paid to the father. 

Tliese observations occurred while the party 
were seating themselves before the cheerful fire, 
during which time there was a suspension of their 
discourse. But when each was comfortably ar- 
ranged, and Louisa, after laying aside a thin coat 
of faded silk, and a gipsy hat, that was more be- 
coming to her modest, ingenuous countenance than 
appropriate to the season, had taken a chair be- 
tween her father and the youth, the former re- 
sumed the conversation. 

“ I trust, my young friend,” he said, “ that the 
education which you have received has eradicated 
most of those revengeful principles, which you may 
have inherited by descent ; for I understand from 
the expressions of John, that you have some of 
the blood of the Delaware tribe. Do not mistake 
me, I beg, for it is not colour, nor lineage, that 
constitutes merit ; and I know not that he who 

VOL. I. 


!82 


THE PIONEERS 


claims affinity to the proper owners of this soil, has 
not the best right to tread these hills with the 
lightest conscience.” 

Mohegan turned solemnly to the speaker, and, 
with the peculiarly significant gestures of an In- 
dian, he spoke : — 

“ Father, you are not yet past the summer of 
life ; your limbs are young. Go to the highest hill, 
and look around you. All that you see, from the 
rising to the setting sun, from the head waters of 
the great spring, to where the ‘ crooked river’ is 
hid by the hills, js his. He has Delaware blood, 
and his right is strong. But the brother of Mi- 
quon is just ; he will cut the country in two parts, 
as the river cuts the low-lands, and will say to the 
‘ Young Eagle,’ Child of the Delawares ! take it — 
keep it — and be a chief in the land of your fathers.” 

“ Never !” exclaimed the young hunter, with a 
vehemence that destroyed the rapt attention, with 
which the divine and his daughter were listening 
to the earnest manner of the Indian. “ The wolf 
of the forest is not more rapacious for his prey, than 
that man is greedy for gold ; and yet his glidings 
into wealth are as subtle as the movements of a 
serpent.” t 

“ Forbear, forbear, my son, forbear,” interrupt- 
ed Mr. Grant. “ These angry passions must be 
subdued. The accidental injury you have received 
from Judge Temple has heightened the sense of 
your hereditary wrongs. But remember that the 
one was unintentional, and that the other is the ef- 
fect of political changes, which have, in their course, 
greatly lowered the pride of kings, and swept 
mighty nations from the face of the earth. Where 
now are the Philistines, who so often held the 
children of Israel in bondage ! or that city of Ba- 
nylon, which rioted in luxury and vice, and who 


THE PIONEERS. 


183 


styled herself the Queen of Nations, in the drunk- 
enness of her pride ? Remember the prayer of 
our holy litany, where we implore the Divine 
Power— “ that it may please thee to forgive our 
enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn 
their hearts.” The sin of the wrongs which have 
been done to the natives is shared by Judge Tem- 
ple only in common with a whole people, and 
your arm will speedily be restored to its strength.” 

“ This arm !” repeated the youth, scornfully, 
pacing the floor in violent agitation. “ Think you, 
sir, that I believe the man a murderer ? — Oh, no ! 
he is too wily, too cowardly, for such a crime. 
But let him and his daughter riot in their wealth — 
there will a day of retribution come. No, no, no,” 
he continued, as he trod the floor more calmly — 

“ it is for Mohegan to suspect him of such a crime, ^ 
as an intent to injure me : but the trifle is not 
worth a second thought.” 

He seated himself, and hid his face between his 
hands, as they rested on his knees. 

‘‘ It is the hereditary violence of a native’s pas- 
sion, my child,” said Mr. Grant, in a low tone, to 
his affrighted daughter, who was clinging in terror 
to his arm. “ He is mixed with the blood of the 
Indians, you have heard ; and neither the refine- 
ments of education, nor the advantages of our ex- 
cellent liturgy, have been able entirely to eradi- 
cate the evil. But care and time will do much for 
him yet.” 

Although the divine spoke in a low tone, yet 
what he uttered was heard by the youth, who 
raised his head, with a smile of indefinite expres- 
sion, and spoke more calmly. 

“ Be not alarmed. Miss Grant, at either the 
wildness of my manner, or that of my dress. I 
have been carried away by passions, that I should 


184 


THE PIOxVEEES. 


sstruggle to repress. I must attribute it, with your 
father, to the blood in my veins, although I would 
not impeach my lineage willingly ; for it is all that 
is left me to boast of. Yes! lam proud of my 
descent from a Delaware chief, who was a warrior 
that ennobled human nature. Old Mohegan was 
his friend, and will vouch for his virtues.” 

Mr. Grant here took up the discourse, and, find- 
ing the young man more calm, and the aged chief 
attentive, he entered into a full and theological dis- 
cussion of the duty of forgiveness. The conversa- 
tion lasted for more than an hour, when the visit- 
ers arose, and, after exchanging good wishes with 
their entertainers, they departed. At the door 
they separated, Mohegan taking the direct route 
to the village, while the youth moved towards the 
lake. The divine stood at the entrance of his 
dwelling, regarding the figure of the aged chief as 
it glided at an astonishing gait, for his years, along 
the deep path ; his black, straight hair just visible 
over the bundle formed by his blanket, which was 
sometimes blended with the snow, under the sil- 
very light of the moon. From the rear of the 
house was a window, that overlooked the lake ; 
and here Louisa was found by her father, when he 
entered, gazing intently on some object in the 
direction of the eastern mountain. He approached 
the spot, and saw the tall figure of the young hunt- 
er, at the distance of half a mile, walking with pro- 
digious steps across the wide fields of frozen snow, 
that covered the ice, towards the point where he 
knew the hut that was inhabited by the Leather- 
stocking was situated on the margin of the lake, 
under a rock, that was crowned by pines and hem- 
locks. At the iiext instant, the wildly-looking 
form entered the dark shadow, that was cast from 
the overhanging trees, and was lost to view. 


THE PIONEERS. 


185 


“ It is marvellous, how long the propensities of 
the savage continue in that remarkable race,” said 
the good divine ; “ but if he perseveres, as he has 
commenced, his triumph shall yet be complete. 
Remember me, my child, to lend him the homily 
‘ against peril of idolatry,’ at his next visit.” 

“ Surely, father,” cried the maiden, “ you do 
not think him in danger of relapsing into the wor- 
ship of his ancestors !” 

“No, my child,” returned the clergyman, laying 
his hand affectionately on her flaxen locks, and 
smiling ; “ his w^hite blood would prevent it ; but 
there is such a thing as the idolatry of our pas- 
sions.” 


16 * 


CHAPTER XIII. 


And ril drink out of the quart pot,— 

Here’# a health to the barley mow. 

Drinkivff Song‘ 


On one of the corners, where the two principal 
streets of Templeton intersected each other, stood, 
as we have already mentioned, the inn, that was 
called the “ Bold Dragoon.” In the original plan, 
it w^as ordained that the village should stretch along 
the little stream, that rushed down the valley, and 
the street which led from the lake to the academy, 
was intended to be its western boundary. But 
convenience frequently frustrates the best regu- 
lated plans. The house of Mr., or as, in conse- 
quence of commanding the militia of that vicinity, 
he was called. Captain Hollister, had, at an early 
day, been erected directly facing the main street, 
and ostensibly interposed a barrier to its further 
progress. Horsemen, and subsequently teamsters, 
however, availed themselves of an opening, at the 
end of the building, to shorten their passage west- 
ward, until, in time, the regular highway was laid 
out along this course, and houses were gradually 
built on either side, so as effectually to prevent 
any subsequent correction of the evil. 

There were two material consequences, which 
followed this insidious change in the regular plans 


THE PIONEERS. 


187 


of Marmaduke. The"one, that the main-street, af- 
ter running about half its length, was suddenly re- 
duced to precisely that difference in its width ; and 
the other, that the “ Bold Dragoon” became, next 
to the Mansion-house, by far the most conspicuous 
edifice in the place. 

This conspicuousness, aided by the characters of 
the host and hostess, gave the tavern an advantage 
over all its future competitors, that no circum- 
stances could conquer. An effort was, however, 
made to do so ; and at the corner diagonally oppo- 
site, stood a new building, that was intended by its 
occupants to look down all opposition. It was a 
house of wood, ornamented in the prevailing style 
of architecture, and, about the roof and balustrades, 
was one of the three imitators of the Mansion- 
house. The upper windows were filled with 
rough boards, secured by nails, to keep out the 
cold air ; for the edifice was far from finished, al- 
though glass was to be seen in the low^er apart- 
ments, and the light of the pow^erful fires within 
denoted that it was already inhabited. The ex- 
terior was painted white, on the front and on the 
end which was exposed to the street ; but in the 
rear, and on the side which was intended to join 
the neighbouring house, it was coarsely smeared 
with Spanish brown. Before the door stood two 
lofty posts, connected at the top by a beam, from 
which was suspended an enormous sign, ornament- 
ed around its edges with certain curious carvings 
in pine boards, and on its faces loaded with ma- 
sonic emblems. Over these mysterious figures, 
was written, in large letters, “ The Templeton 
Coffee-House and Traveller’s Hotel,” and be- 
neath them, ‘‘ By Habakkuk Foote and Joshua 
Knapp.” This was a fearful rival to the “ Bold 
Di agoon,” as our readers will the more readily per- 


18S 


THE PIONEERS. 


ceive, when we add, that the same sonorous names 
were to be seen over the door of a newly erected 
store in the village, a hatter’s shop, and the gates 
of a tan-yard. But, either because too much was 
attempted to be well executed, or that the “ Bold 
Dragoon” had established a reputation which could 
not be easily shaken, not only Judge Temple and 
his friends, but most of the villagers also, who 
were not in debt to the powerful firm we have 
named, frequented the inn of Captain Hollister, 
on all occasions where such a house was necessary. 

On the present evening, the limping veteran, 
and his consort, were hardly housed, after their 
return from, the academy, when the sounds of 
stamping feet at their threshold announced the ap- 
proach of visiters, who were probably assembling 
with a view to compare opinions on the subject 
of the ceremonies they had witnessed. 

The public, or, as it was called, the “ bar-room,” 
of the ‘‘ Bold Dragoon,” was a spacious apartment, 
lined on three sides with benches, and on the fourth 
by fire-places. Of the latter, there were two, of 
such size as to occupy, with their enormous jambs, 
the whole of that side of the apartment where they 
were placed, excepting room enough for a door or 
tw^o, and a little apartment in one corner, which 
was protected by miniature palisadoes, and pro- 
fusely garnished with bottles and glasses. In the 
entrance to this sanctuary, Mrs. Hollister was 
seated with great gravity in her air, while her 
husband occupied himself with stirring the fires ; 
moving the logs with a large stake, burnt to a point 
at one end. 

“ There, Sargeant dear,” said the landlady, after 
she thought the veteran had got the logs arranged 
in the most judicious manner, “ give over poking 
the fires, for it’s no good yee’ll be doing, now that 


THE PIOXEERS. 


1S9 


they burn so convaniently. There’s the glasses 
on the table there, and the mug that the Doctor 
was taking his cider and ginger in, before the fire 
here, — jist put them in the bar, will ye ? for W'e’ll 
be having the Jooge, and the Major, and Mr. Jones, 
down the night, widout reckoning Benjamin Poomp, 
and the Lawyers : so ye’ll be fixing the room tidy ; 
and put both flip-irons in the coals ; and tell Jude, 
the lazy, black baste, that if she’s no be claneiug 
up the kitchen. I’ll jist turn her out of the house, 
and she may live wid the jontlemen that kape the 
‘ Coffee-house,’ good luck to ’em. Och ! Sar- 
geant, sure it’s a great privilege to go to a mateing, 
where a body can sit asy, widout joomping up and 
down so often, as this Mr. Grant is doing the same.” 

“ It’s a privilege at all times. Mistress Hollister, 
whether we stand or be seated; or, as good Mr. 
Whitefield used to do, after he had made a weari- 
some daj'^s march, get on our knees and pray, like 
Moses of old, with a flanker to the right and left, 
to lift his hands to heaven,” returned her husband, 
who composedly performed what she had directed 
to be done. “ It was a very pretty fight, Betty, 
that the Israelites had, on that day, with the Ama- 
lekites. It seems that they fout on a plain, for 
Moses is mentioned, as having gone on to the 
heights, to overlook the battle, and wrestle in 
prayer ; and if I should judge, with my little lam- 
ing, the Israelites depended mainly on their horse, 
for it is written, that Joshua cut up the enemy with 
the edge of the sword : from which I infer, not 
only that they were horse, but well disciplyn’d 
troops. Indeed, it says as much as that they 
were chosen men ; quite likely volunteers ; but 
raw^ dragoons seldom strike with the edge of their 
swords, particularly if the weapon be any way 
crooked.” 


190 


THE PIONEERS. 


“ Pshaw ! why do ye bother yourself wid taxts, 
man, about so small a matter,” interrupted the 
landlady ; “ sure it was the Lord who was wid 
’em ; for he always sided wid the Jews, at first, 
before they fell away ; and it’s but little matter 
w^hat kind of men Joshua commanded, so that he 
was doing the right bidding. Aven them cursed 
millaishy, the Lord forgi’e me for swearing, that 
was the death of him, wid their cowardice, would 
have carried the day in old times. There’s no 
rason to be thinking that the soldiers w^as used to 
the drill.” 

“ I must say, Mrs. Hollister,” rejoined her hus- 
band, “ that I have not often seen raw troops fight 
better than the left flank of the militia, at the time 
you mention. They rallied very handsomely , and 
that without beat of drum, which is no easy thing 
to do under fire, and were very steady till he fell. 
But the Scriptures contain no unnecessary words; 
and I will maintain, that horse, who know how to 
strike with the edge of the sword, must be well 
disciplyn’d. Many a good sarmon has been preach- 
ed about smaller matters than that one word ! If 
the text was not meant to be particular, why 
wasn’t it written, with the sword, and not with 
the edge ? Now, a back-handed stroke, on the 
edge, takes long practice. Goodness ! what an ar- 
gument would Mr. Whitefield make of that word 
edge ! As to the Captain, if he had only called 
up the guard of dragoons, when he rallied the foot, 
they would have shown the inimy what the edge 
of a sword was ; for, although there was no com- 
missioned officer with them, yet I think I may say,” 
— the veteran continued, stiffening his cravat about 
the throat, and raising himself up, with the air of 
a drill-sergeant, — “ they w^ere led by a man, who 
know’d how to bring them on, in spite of the ra- 
vine.” 


THE PIONEERS. 


191 


“ Is it lade on ye would ?” cried the landlady, 
“ when ye know yourself, Mr. Hollister, that the 
baste he rode was but little able to joomp from one 
rock to another, and the animal was as spry as a 
squirrel ? Och ! but it’s useless to talk, for he’s 
gone this many a bngyear. I would that he had 
lived to see the true light ; but there’s mercy for a 
brave sowl, that died in the saddle, fighting for the 
liberty. It’s a poor tomb-stone they have given 
him, any way, and many a good one that died like 
himself : but the sign is very like, and I will be 
kapeing it up, while the blacksmith can make a 
hook for it to swing on, for all the ‘ coffee-houses’ 
betwane this and Albany.” 

There is no saying where this desultory conver- 
sation would have led the worthy couple, had not 
the men, who were stamping the snow off their feet, 
on the little platform before the door, suddenly 
ceased their occupation, and entered the bar-room. 

For ten or fifteen minutes, the different individu- 
als, who intended either to bestow or receive edi- 
fication, before the fires of the ‘‘ Bold Dragoon,” 
on that evening, were collecting, until the benches 
were nearly filled with men of different occupa- 
tions. Dr. Todd, and a slovenly-looking, half-gen- 
teel young man, who took tobacco profusely, wore 
a coat of imported cloth, cut with something like a 
fashionable air, frequently exhibited a large French 
silver watch, with a chain of woven hair, and who, 
altogether, seemed as much above the artisans 
around him, as he was inferior to the real gentle- 
man, — occupied a high-back, wooden settee, in the 
most comfortable corner in the apartment. 

Sundry brown mugs, containing cider or beer, 
were placed between the heavy andirons, and little 
groups were formed among the guests, as subjects 
arose, or the liquor was passed from one to the 


193 


THE PIONEERS. 


other. No man was seen to drink by himself, nor 
in any instance was more than one vessel consider- 
ed necessary for the same beverage ; but the glass, 
or the mug, was passed from hand to hand, until a 
chasm in the line, or a regard to the rights of own- 
ership would restore the dregs of the potation to 
him who defrayed the cost. 

Toasts were uniformly drunk ; and occasionally, 
some one, who conceived himself peculiarly endow- 
ed by nature to shine in the way of wit, would at- 
tempt some such sentiment as “ hoping that he’* 
who treated, “ might make a better man than his 
father or, “ live till all his friends wished him 
dead while the more humble pot-companion con- 
tented himself by saying, with a most imposing 
gravity in his air, •* come, here’s luck,” or by ex- 
pressing some other equally comprehensive desire. 
In every instance, the veteran landlord was re- 
quested to imitate the custom of the cup-bearers to 
kings, and taste the liquor he presented, by the 
significant invitation of “ after you is manners 
with which request he ordinarily complied, by wet- 
ting his lips, first expressing the wish of “ here’s 
hoping,” leaving it to the imagination of the hear- 
ers to fill the vacuum by whatever good each thought 
most desirable. During these movements, the land- 
lady was busily occupied with mixing the various 
compounds, required by her customers, with her 
own hands, and occasionally exchanging greetings 
and inquiries concerning the conditions of their re- 
spective families, with such of the villagers as ap- 
proached the bar.” 

At length the common thirst being in some mea- 
sure assuaged, conversation of a more general na- 
ture became the order of the hour. The physician, 
and his companion, who was one of the two law- 
yers of the village, being considered the best quali- 


THE PIONEERS. 


193 


fied to maintain a public discourse with credit, were 
the principal speakers, though a remark was ha- 
zarded, now and then, by Mr. Doolittle, who was 
thought to be their inferior only in the enviable 
point of education. A general silence was pro- 
duced on all but the two speakers, by the follow- 
ing observation from the practitioner of the law : — 
‘‘ So, Dr. Todd, I understand that you have been 
performing an important operation, this evening, by 
cutting a charge of buck-shot from the shoulder of 
the son of Leather-stocking ?” 

“ Yes, sir,” returned the other, elevating his lit- 
tle head, with an air of great importance. “ I had 
a small job up at the Judge’s in that way ; it was, 
however, but a trifle to what it might have been, 
had it gone through the body. The shoulder is 
not a very vital part ; and I think the young 
man will soon be well. But I did not know that 
the patient was a son of Leather-stocking : it is 
news to me, to hear that Natty had a wife.” 

“ It is by no means a necessary consequence,” 
returned the other, wdnking with a shrewd look 
around the bar-room ; “ there is such a thing, I 
suppose you know, in law, as a ‘ films nullius.’ ” 

“ Spake it out, man,” exclaimed the landlady ; 
“ spake it out in king’s English ; what for should 
ye be talking Indian, in a room full of Christian 
folks, though it is about a poor hunter, who is but 
a little better in his ways than the wild savages 
themselves ? Och ! it’s to be hoped that the mis- 
sionaries will, in his own time, make a convarsion 
of the poor divils ; and then it will matter but lit- 
tle, of what colour is the skin, or wedder there be 
wool or hair on the head.” 

“ Oh ! it is Latin, not Indian, Miss Hollister,” 
returned the lawyer, repeating his winks and shrewd 
looks ; and Dr. Todd understands Latin, or how 
von. I. 17 


194 


THE PIONEERS. 


would he read the labels on his gallipots and draw- 
ers ? — No, no, Miss Hollister, the Doctor under- 
stands me ; don’t you. Doctor ?” 

“ Hem — why I guess I am not far out of the 
way,” returned Elnathan, endeavouring to imitate 
the expression of the other’s countenance, by look- 
ing jocular ; ‘‘ Latin is a queer language, gentle- 
men ; — now I rather guess there is no one in the 
room except Squire Lippet, who can believe that 
‘ Far. Av.’ means oatmeal, in English.” 

The lawyer in his turn was a good deal embar- 
rassed by this display of learning ; for, although he 
actually had taken his first degree at one of the 
eastern universities, he was somewhat puzzled 
with the terms used by his companion. It was 
dangerous, however, to appear to be out-done in 
learning in a public bar-room, and before so many 
of his clients ; he therefore put the best face on 
the matter, and laughed knowingly, as if there 
were a good joke concealed under it, that was un- 
derstood only by the physician and himself. All 
this was attentively observed by the listeners, who 
exchanged looks of approbation ; and the expres- 
sions of tonguey man,” and ‘‘ I guess Squire Lip- 
pet knows, if any body doos,” were heard in dif- 
ferent parts of the room, as vouchers for the admi- 
ration of his auditors. Thus encouraged, the law- 
yer rose from his chair, and turning his back to 
the fire, facing the company, he continued — 

“ The son of Natty, or the son of nobody, I 
hope the young man is not going to let the matter 
drop. This is a country of laws; and I should 
like to see it fairly tried, whether a man who owns, 
or says he owns, a hundred thousand acres of land, 
has any more right to shoot a body, than another. 
What do you think of it. Dr. Todd ?” 

Oh ! sir, I am of opinion that the gentleman 


THE PIONEERS. 


195 


will soon be well, as I said before ; the wownd isn’t 
in a vital part ; and as the ball was extracted so 
soon, and the shoulder was what I call well attend- 
ed to, I do not think there is as much danger as 
there might have been.” 

‘‘ I say. Squire Doolittle,” continued the angry 
attorney, “ you are a magistrate, and know what is 
law, and w^hat is not law. I ask you, sir, if shoot- 
ing a man is a thing that is to be settled so very 
easily ? Suppose, sir, that the young man had a 
wife and family ; and suppose that he was a me- 
chanic, like yourself, sir ; and suppose that his fa- 
mily depended on him for bread ; and suppose that 
the ball, instead of merely going through the flesh, 
had broken the shoulder-blade, and crippled him 
for ever; — I ask you all, gentlemen, supposing this 
to be the case, whether a jury wouldn’t give what 
I call handsome damages ?” 

As the close of this supposititious case was ad- 
dressed to the company, generally, Hiram did not, 
at first, consider himself called on for a reply ; but 
finding the eyes of the listeners bent on him in ex- 
pectation, he remembered his character for judicial 
discrimination, and spoke, observing a due degree 
of deliberation and dignity in his manner. 

“ Why, if a man should shoot another,” he said, 
‘‘ and if he should do it on purpose, and if the law 
took notice on’t, and if a jury should find him 
guilty, it would be likely to turn out a state-prison 
matter.” 

“It would so, sir,” returned the attorney. — 
“ The law, gentlemen, is no respecter of persons, 
in a free country. It is one of the great blessings 
that has been handed down to us from our ances- 
tors, that all men are equal in the eye of the law, 
as they are by nater. Though some may get pro- 
perty, no one knows how, yet they are not privi- 


196 


THE PIONEERS. 


leged to transgress the laws, any more than the 
poorest citizen in the state. This is my notion, 
gentlemen ; and I think that if a man had a mind 
to bring this matter up, something might be made 
out of it, that would help pay for the salve — ha ! 
Doctor.^” 

“ Why sir,” returned the physician, who appear- 
ed a little uneasy at the turn the conversation was 
taking, “ I have the promise of Judge Temple, be- 
fore men — not but what I would take^Jiis word as 
soon as his note of hand — but it was before men. 
Let me see — there was Mounshier Ler Quow, and 
Squire Jones, and Major Hartmann, and Miss Pet- 
tibone, and one or two of the blacks by, when he 
said that his pocket w'ould amply reward me for 
what I did.” 

“ Was the promise made before or after the ser- 
vice was performed ?” asked the attorney. 

“ It might have been both,” returned the dis- 
creet physician ; “ though I’m certain he said so, 
before I undertook the dressing.” 

“ But it seems that he said his pocket should re- 
ward you, Doctor,” observed Hiram. “ Now 1 
don’t know that the law will hold a man to such a 
promise ; he might give you his pocket with six- 
pence in’t, and tell you to take your pay out on’t.” 

“ That would not be a reward in the eye of the 
law,” interrupted the attorney — “ not what is call- 
ed a ‘ quid pro quo nor is the pocket to be con- 
sidered as an agent, but as part of a man’s own 
person, that is, in this particular. I am of opinion 
that an action would lie on that promise, and I will 
undertake to bear him out, free of costs, if he don’t 
recover.” 

To this proposition the physician made no reply ; 
but he was observed to cast his eyes around him, 
as if to enumerate the witnesses, in order to sub- 


THE PIOJVEERS. 


197 


stantiate this promise also, at a future day, should 
it prove necessary. A subject so momentous, as 
that of suing J udge T emple, was not very palatable 
to the present company, in so public a place ; and 
a short silence ensued, that was only interrupted 
by the opening of the door, and the entrance of 
Natty himself. 

The old hunter carried in his hand his never- 
failing companion, his rifle ; and although all of the 
company were uncovered, excepting the lawyer, 
who wore his hat on one side, with a certain know- 
ing air, Natty moved to the front of one of the 
fires, without in the least altering any part of his 
dress or appearance. Several questions were ad- 
dressed to him, on the subject of the game he had 
killed, which he answered readily, and with some 
little interest ; and the landlord, between whom 
and Natty there existed much cordiality, on ac- 
count of their both having been soldiers in their 
youth, offered him a glass of a liquid, which, if we 
might judge from its reception, was no unwelcome 
guest. When the forester had gotten his potation 
also, he quietly took his seat on the end of one of 
the logs, that lay nigh to the fires, and the slight 
interruption, produced by his entrance, seemed to 
be forgotten. 

“ The testimony of the blacks could not be 
taken, sir,” continued the lawyer, “ for they are 
all the property of Mr. Jones, who owns their 
time. But there is a way by which Judge Tem- 
ple, or any other man, might be made to pay for 
shooting another, and for the cure in the bargain. 
— There is a way, I say, and that without going 
into the ‘ court of errors’ too.” 

“ And a mighty big error ye would make of it. 
Mister Todd,” cried the landlady, “should ye be 
putting the matter into the law at all, with Joodge 


198 


THE PIONEERS. 


Temple, who has a purse as long as one of them 
pines on the hill, and who is an asy man to dale 
wid, if yees but mind the humour of him. He’s a 
good man is Joodge Temple, and a kind one, and 
one who will be no the likelier to do the pratty 
thing, bekaase ye would wish to tarrify him wid 
the law. I know of but one obj action to the same, 
which is an over-carelessness about his sowl. It’s 
nather a Methodie, nor a Papish, nor Prasbetyriaii, 
that he is, but jist nothing at all : and it’s hard to 
think that he, ‘ who will not fight the good fight, 
under the banners of a rig’lar church, in this world, 
will be mustered among the chosen in heaven,’ as 
ray husband, the Captain there, as ye call him, 
says — though there is but one captain that I know^, 
who desaarves the name. I hopes. Lather-stock- 
ing, ye’ll no be foolish, and putting the boy up to 
try the law in the matter ; for ’twill be an evil day 
to ye both, when ye first turn the skin of so pace- 
able an animal as a sheep into a bone of conten- 
tion. The lad is wilcome to his drink for nothing, 
until his shouther wdll bear the rifle ag’in.” 

“ Well, that’s gin’rous,” was heard from several 
mouths at once, at this liberal offer of the landlady ; 
while the hunter, instead of expressing any of that 
indignation which he might be supposed to feel, at 
hearing the hurt of his young companion alluded 
to, opened his mouth, with the silent laugh for 
which he was so remarkable ; and after he had in- 
dulged his humour, made this reply — 

‘‘ I know’d the Judge would do nothing with his 
smooth-bore, when he got out of his sleigh. I ne- 
ver see’d but one smooth-bore, that would carry 
at all, and that was a French ducking-piece, upon 
the big lakes : it had a barrel half as long ag’in as 
my rifle, and would throw fine shot into a goose, 
at a hundred yards ; but it made dreadful work 


THE PIONEERS. 


199 


with the game, and you wanted a boat to carry it 
about in. When I went with Sir William ag’in the 
French, at Fort Niagara, all the rangers used the 
rifle ; and a dreadful weapon it is, in the hands of 
one who knows how to charge it, and keeps a 
steady aim. The Captain knows, for he says he 
was a soldier in Shirley’s, and though they were 
nothing but baggonet-men, he must know how we 
cut up the French and Iroquois in the skrimmages, 
in that war. Chingachgook, which means ‘ Big 
Sarpent’ in English, old John Mohegan, who lives 
up at the hut with me, was a great warrior then, 
and was out with us ; he can tell all about it, too ; 
though he was an overhand for the tomahawk, ne- 
ver bring more than once or twice, before he was 
running in for the scalps. Ah ! hum ! times is 
dreadfully altered since then. Why, Doctor, there 
was nothing but a foot path, or at the most a track 
for pack-horses, along the Mohawk, from the Gar- 
man Flats clean up to the forts. Now, they say, 
they talk of running one of them wdde roads with 
gates on’t along the river ; first making a road, and 
then fencing it up ! I hunted one season back of 
the Kaatskills, nigh-hand to the settlements, and 
the dogs often lost the scent, when they corn’d to 
them highways, there was so much travel on them ; 
though I can’t say that the brutes was of a very 
good breed. Old Hector will wind a deer in the 
fall of the year, across the broadest place in the 
Otsego, and that is a mile and a half, for I paced it 
myself on the ice, when the tract was first surveyed 
under the Indian grant.” 

“ It sames to me. Natty, but a sorry compli- 
ment, to call your comrad after the evil one,” said 
the landlady ; and it’s no much like a snake that 
old John is looking now. Nimrood would be a more 
besaming name for the lad, and a more Christian too. 


200 


THE PIONEERS. 


seeing that it comes from the Bible. The sargeant 
read me the chapter about him, the night before 
my christening, and a mighty asement it was, to 
listen to any thing from the book.” 

Old John and Chingachgook were very differ- 
ent men to look on,” returned the hunter, shaking 
his head at his melancholy recollections. — “ In the 
‘ fifty-eighth war,’ he was in the middle of man- 
hood, and was taller than now by three inches. If 
you had seen him, as I did, the morning we beat 
Dieskau, from behind our log walls, you would 
have called him as comely a red-skin as ye ever 
set eyes on. He was naked, all to his breech- 
cloth and leggens ; and you never seed a creater 
so handsomely painted. One side of his face was 
red, and the other black. His head was shaved 
clean, all to a few hairs on the crown, where he 
wore a tuft of eagle’s feathers, as bright as if they 
had come from a peacock’s tail. He had coloured 
his sides^, so that they looked just like an atomy, 
ribs and all ; for Chingachgook had a great notion 
in such things : so that, what with his bold, fiery 
countenance, his knife, and his tomahawk, I have 
never seed a fiercer warrior on the ground. He 
played his part, too, like a man ; for I seen him 
next day, with thirteen scalps on his pole. And I 
will say that for the ‘ Big Snake,’ that he always 
dealt fair, and never scalped any that he didn’t 
kill with his own hands.” 

Well, well,” cried the landlady ; “ fighting is 
fighting, any way, and there is different fashions in 
the thing ; though I can’t say that I relish mangling 
a body after the breath is out of it ; neither do 1 
think it can be uphild by doctrine, I hope, sar- 
geant, ye niver was helping in sich evil worrek.” 

‘‘ It was my duty to keep my ranks, and to stand 
or fall by the baggonet or lead,” returned the vete- 


THE PIONEERS. 


201 


ran. “ I was then in the fort, and, seldom leaving 
my place, saw but little of the savages, who kept 
on the flanks, or in front, skrimmaging. I remem- 
ber, howsomever, to have heard mention made of 
the ‘ Great Snake,’ as he was called, for he w'as a 
chief of renown ; but little did I ever expect to see 
him enlisted in the cause of Christianity, and civi- 
lized like old John.” 

Oh ! he was christianized by the Moravian?, 
who was always over intimate with the Dela- 
wares,” said Leather-stocking. “ It’s my opinion, 
that, had they been left to themselves, there w^ould 
be no such doings now, about the head waters of 
the two rivers, and that these hills mought have, 
been kept as good hunting-ground, by their right 
owner, who is not too old to carry a rifle, and 
whose sight is as true as a fish-hawk, hovering” — 
He was interrupted by more stamping at the 
door, and presently the party from the Mansion- 
house entered, followed by the Indian himself. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


There’s quart pot, pint pot, half-pint, 

Gill pot, half-gill, nipperkin. 

And the brown bowl — 

Here’s a health to the barley mow. 

My brave boys, 

Here’s a health to the barley mow. 

Drinking Song. 


Some little commotion was produced by the ap- 
pearance of the new guests, during which the law- 
yer disappeared from the room. Most of the men 
approached Marmaduke, and shook his offered 
hand, hoping “ that the Judge was well while 
Major Hartmann, having laid aside his hat and wig, 
and substituted for the latter a warm, peaked, wool- 
len night-cap, took his seat very quietly on one end 
of the settee, which was relinquished by its former 
occupants. His tobacco-box was next produced, 
and a clean pipe was handed him by the landlord. 
When he had succeeded in raising a smoke, the 
Major gave a long whiff, and, turning his head to- 
wards the bar, he said — 

“ Petty, pring in ter toddy.” 

In the mean time, the Judge had exchanged his 
salutations with most of the company, and taken a 
place by the side of the Major, and Richard had 
bustled himself into the most comfortable seat in 


THE PIONEERS. 


20S 


the loom. Mr. Le Quoi was the last seated, nor 
did he venture to place his chair finally, until, by 
frequent removals, he had ascertained that he could 
not possibly intercept a ray of heat from any indi- 
vidual present. Mohegan found^a place on an end 
of one of the benches, and somewhat approximated 
to the bar. When these movements had subsided, 
the Judge remarked, pleasantly — 

“ Well, Betty, I find you retain your popularity, 
through all weathers, against all rivals, and among 
all religions. — How liked you the sermon 

“ Is it the sarmon exclaimed the landlady. 
I can’t say but it was rasonable ; but the prayers 
is mighty unasy. It’s no so small a matter for a 
body, in their fifty-nint’ year, to be moving so 
much in church. Mr. Grant sames a godly man, 
any way, and his garrel is a hoomble one, and a 
devout. — Here, John, is a mug of cider lac’d with 
whisky. An Indian will drink cider, though he 
niver be athirst.” 

“ I must say,” observed Hiram, with due deli- 
beration, “ that it was a tonguey thing; and I ra- 
ther guess that it gave considerable satisfaction. 
There was one part, though, which might have 
been left out, or something else put in ; but then, 
I s’pose that, as it was a written discourse, it is not 
so easily altered, as where a minister preaches 
without notes.” 

“ Ay ! there’s the rub, Joodge,” cried the land 
lady. “ How can a man stand up and be praching 
his word, when all that he is saying is written 
down, and he is as much tied to it as iver a thaving 
dragoon was to the pickets 

“ Well, well,” cried Marmaduke, waving his 
hand for silence, “ there is enough said ; as Mr. 
Grant told us, there are different sentiments on 
such subjects, and in my opinion he spoke most 


204 


THE PIONEERS. 


sensibly. — So, Jotham, I am told you have sold 
your betterments to a new settler, and have moved 
into the village and opened a school. Was it cash 
or dicker ?” 

The man who was thus addressed occupied a 
seat immediately behind Marmaduke ; and one, 
who was ignorant of the extent of the Judge’s ob- 
servation, might have thought he would have es- 
caped notice. — He was of a thin, shapeless figure, 
with a discontented expression of countenance, and 
with something extremely shiftless in his whole 
air. Thus spoken to, after turning and twisting a 
little, by way of preparation, he made a reply. 

“ Why, part cash, and part dicker. I sold out 
to a Pumfret-raan, who was so’thin forehanded. 
He was to give me ten dollars an acre for the 
clearin, and one dollar an acre over the first cost, 
on the wood-land ; and we agreed to leave the 
buildins to men. So I tuck Asa Mountagu, and he 
tuck Absalom Bement, and they two tuck old 
Squire Naphtali Green. And so they had a 
meetin, and made out a vardict of eighty dollars 
for the buildins. There was twelve acres of clear- 
in, at ten dollars, and eighty-eight at one, and the 
whull came to jist two hundred and eighty-six dol- 
lars and a half, after paying the men.” 

“ Hum,” said Marmaduke : “ what did you give 
for the place 

Why, besides what’s comin to the Judge, 1 
gi’n my brother Tim a hundred dollars for his bar- 
gain ; but then there’s a new house on’t, that cost 
me sixty more, and I paid Moses a hundred dollars, 
for choppin, and loggin, and sowin ; so that the 
whull stood me in about two hundred and sixty 
dollars. But then I had a great crop off on’t, and 
as I got jist twenty-six dollars and a half more than 
it cost, I conclude I made a pretty good trade on’t.” 


THE PIONEERS. 


205 


“ Yes, but you forgot that the crop was yours 
without the trade, and you have turned yourself 
out of doors for twenty-six dollars.” 

“ Gh ! the Judge is clean out,” said the man, 
with a look of sagacious calculation ; “ he turned 
out a span of horses, that is wuth a hundred and 
fifty dollars of any man’s money, with a bran new 
wagon ; fifty dollars in cash ; and a good note for 
eighty more ; and a side saddle that was valood at 
seven and a half — so there was jist twelve shillings 
betwixt us. I wanted him to turn out a set of har- 
ness, and take the cow and the sap-troughs. He 
wouldn’t — but I saw through it; he thought I 
should have to buy the tacklin afore I could use 
the wagon and horses ; but I know’d a thing or two 
myself ; I should like to know of what use is the 
tacklin to him ! I offered him to trade back ag’in, 
for one hundred and fifty-five. But my woman 
said she wanted a churn, so I tuck a churn for the 
change.” 

“ And what do you mean to do with your time 
this winter ? you must remember that time is mo- 
ney.” 

‘‘ Why, as the master is gone down country, to 
see his mother, who, they say, is going to make a 
die on’t, I agreed to take the school in hand, till 
he comes back. If times doesn’t get wuss in the 
spring, I’ve some notion of going into trade, or 
maybe I may move off to the Genessee ; they say 
they are carryin on a great stroke of business that- 
a-way. If the wust comes to the wust, I can but 
work at my trade, for I was brought up in a shoe 
manufactory.” 

It would seem, that Marmaduke did not think 
his society of sufficient value, to attempt inducing 
him to remain where he was ; for he addressed no 
further discourse to the man, but turned his atten- 

VOL. I. 18 


206 


THE PIONEERS. 


tion to other subjects. — After a short pause, Hiram 
ventured a question : — 

“ What news does the Judge bring us from the 
legislater ? it’s not likely that congress has done 
much this session ; or maybe the French haven’t 
fit any more battles lately ?” 

“ The French, since they have beheaded their 
king, have done nothing but fight,” returned the 
judge. — The character of the nation seems 
changed. I knew many French gentlemen, during 
our war, and they all appeared to me to be men 
of great humanity and goodness of heart ; but 
these Jacobins are as blood-thirsty as bull-dogs.” 

“ There was one Roshambow wid us, down at 
Yorrek-town,” cried the landlady ; ‘‘ a mighty 
pratty man he was, too •; and their horse was the 
very same. It was there that the Sargeant got 
the hurt in the leg, from the English batteries, bad 
luck to ’em.” 

“ Ah ! mon pauvre Roi !” murmured Monsieur 
Le Quoi. 

“ The legislature have been passing laws,” con- 
tinued Marmaduke, “ that the country much re- 
quired. Among others, there is an act, prohibit- 
ing the drawing of seines, at any other than pro- 
per seasons, in certain of our streams and small 
lakes ; and another, to prohibit the killing of deer 
in the teeming months. These are laws that were 
loudly called for, by judicious men ; nor do I de- 
spair of getting an act, to make the unlawful felling 
of timber a criminal offence.” 

The hunter listened to this detail with breath- 
less attention, and when the Judge had ended, he 
laughed in open derision for a moment, before he 
made this reply : — 

“You may make your laws. Judge, but who 
will you find to watch the mountains through the 


THE PIONEERS. 


207 


long summer days, or the lakes at night ? Game 
is game, and he who finds may kill ; that has been 
the law in these mountains for forty years, to my 
sartain knowledge; and I think one old law is 
worth two new’ ones. None but a green-one 
would wish to kill a doe with a fa’n by its side, 
unless his moccasins was gettin old, or his leggins 
ragged, for the flesh is lean and coarse. But a rifle 
rings among them rocks along the lake shore, 
sometimes, as if fifty pieces were fired at once ; — 
it would be hard to tell where the man stood who 
pulled the trigger.” 

“ Armed with the dignity of the law, Mr. Bump- 
po,” returned the Judge, gravely, “ a vigilant ma- 
gistrate can prevent much of Jhe evil that has 
hitherto prevailed, and which is already rendering 
the game scarce. I hope to live to see the day, 
when a man’s rights in his game shall be as much 
respected as his title to his farm.” 

“ Your titles and your farms are all new to- 
gether,” cried Natty ; “ but laws should be equal, 
and not more for one than another. I shot a deer, 
last Wednesday was a fortnight, and it floundered 
through the snow-banks till it got over a brush 
fence ; I catch’d the lock of my rifle in the twigs, 
in following, and was kept back, until finally the 
creater got off. Now I want to know who is to 
pay me for that deer ; and a fine buck it was. If 
there hadn’t been a fence, I should have gotten 
another shot into it ; and I never draw’d upon any 
thing that hadn’t wings three times running, in my 
born days. — No, no. Judge, it’s the farmers that 
makes the game scearce, and not the hunters.” 

“ Ter teer is not so plenty as in ter old war, 
Pumppo,” said the Major, who had been an atten- 
tive listener, amidst clouds of smoke ; ‘‘ put ter lant 


208 


THE PIONEEKs. 


is not mate as for ter teer to live on, put for 
Christians.” 

“ Why, Major, I believe you’re a friend to jus- 
tice and the right, though you go so often to the 
grand house ; but it’s a hard case to a man, to have 
his honest calling for a livelihood stopt by sitch 
laws, and that too when, if right was done, he 
mought hunt or fish on any day in the week, or 
on the best flat in the Patent, if he was so minded.” 

“ I unterstant you, Letter-stockint,” returned 
the Major, fixing his black eyes, with a look of 
peculiar meaning, on the hunter ; “ put you tidn’t 
use to be so prutent, as to look ahet mit so much 
care.” 

Maybe there wasn’t so much ’casion,” said 
the hunter, a little sulkily ; when he sunk into a 
profound silence, from which he was not roused 
for some time. 

“ The Judge was saying so’thin about the 
French,” Hiram observed, when the pause in the 
conversation had continued a decent time. 

“ Yes, sir,” returned Marmaduke, “ the Jacobins 
of France seem rushing from one act of licentious- 
ness to another. They continue those murders, 
which are dignified by the name of executions. 
You have heard, that they have added the death 
of their Queen to the long list of their crimes.” 

“ Les Betes !” again murmured Monsieur Le 
Quoi, turning himself suddenly in his chair, with 
a convulsive start. 

“ The province of La Vendee is laid waste by 
the troops of the republic, and hundreds of its in- 
habitants, w^ho are royalists in their sentiments, 
are shot at a time. — La Vendee is a district in the 
southwest of France, that continues yet much at- 
tached to the family of the Bourbons ; doubtless 


THE PIONEERS. 


209 


Monsieur Le Quoi is acquainted with it, and can 
describe it more faithfully.” 

“ Non, non, non, mon cher ami,” returned the 
Frenchman, in a suppressed voice, but speaking 
rapidly, and gesticulating with his right hand, as 
if for mercy, while with his left he concealed his 
eyes. 

“ There have been many battles fought lately,” 
continued Marmaduke, “ and the infuriated repub- 
licans are too often victorious. I cannot say, how- 
ever, that I am sorry they have captured Toulon 
from the English, for it is a place to which they 
seem to have a just right.” 

“ Ah — ha !” exclaimed Monsieur Le Quoi, 
springing on his feet, and flourishing both arms 
with great animation ; “ ces Anglais ! dey be vipt ! 
De French be one gallant peop’, if dere vas gen’ral. 
Ah — ha! Toulon take ; c’est bon ! I do vish dat 
dey take Londre — pardonnez moi ; mais, it ees 
bon !” 

The Frenchman continued to move about the 
room with great alacrity for a few minutes, repeat- 
ing his exclamations to himself ; when, overcome 
by the contradictory nature of his emotions, he 
suddenly burst out of the house, and was seen 
wading through the snow towards his little shop, 
waving his arms on high, as if to pluck down ho- 
nour from the moon. His departure excited but 
little surprise, for the villagers were used to his 
manner ; but Major Hartmann laughed outright, 
for the first time during his visit, as he lifted the 
mug, and observed — 

“ Ter Frenchman is mat — put he is goot as for 
notting to trink ; he is trunk mit joy.” 

“ The French are good soldiers,” said Captain 
Hollister ; “ they stood us in hand a good turn, 
down at York- town ; nor do I think, although I am 
18 ^ 


210 


THE PIONEERS. 


an ignorant man about the great movemenls of the 
army, that his Excellency would have been able to 
march against Cornwallis, without their reinforce- 
ments.” 

‘‘ Ye spake the trut’, Sargeant,” interrupted his 
wife, “ and I would iver have ye be doing the same. 
It’s varry pratty men is the French ; and jist when 
I stopt the cart, the time when ye was pushing on 
in front it was, to kape the rig’lers in, a rigiment 
of the jontlemen marched by, and so I dealt them 
out to their liking. Was it pay I got ^ sure did I, 
and in good solid crowns : the divil a bit of conti- 
nental could they muster among them all, for love 
nor money. Och ! the Lord forgive me for swear- 
ing, and spakeing of sich vanities : but this I will say 
for the French, that they paid in good silver ; and 
one glass would go a great way wid ’em, for they 
gin’rally handed it back wid a drop in the cup ; and 
that’s a brisk trade, Joodge, where the pay is good, 
and the men not over partic’lar.” 

A thriving trade, Mrs. Hollister,” said Marma- 
duke. “ But what has become of Richard ? he 
jumped up as soon as seated, and has been absent 
so long that I am fearful he has frozen.” 

“No fear of that, cousin ’duke,” cried the gen- 
tleman himself ; “ business will sometimes keep a 
man warm, the coldest night that ever snapt in the 
mountains. Betty, your husband told me, as we 
came out of church, that your hogs were getting 
mangy, so I have been out to take a look at them, 
and found it true. I stepped across. Doctor, and 
got your boy to weigh me ouit a pound of salts, and 
have been mixing it with their swill. I’ll bet a 
saddle of venison against a gray squirrel, that they 
are better in a week. And now, Mrs. Hollister, 
I’m ready for a hissing mug of flip,” 


THE PIONEERS. 


211 


“ Sure, I know’d yee’d be wanting that same,” 
said the landlady ; “ it’s mixt and ready to the 
boiling. Sargeant, dear, jist be handing up the 
iron, will ye ? — no, the one in the far fire, it’s black, 
ye will see. — Ah ! you’ve the thing now ; look if 
it’s not as red as a cherry.” 

The beverage was heated, and Richard took that 
kind of draught which men are apt to indulge in, 
who think that they have just executed a clever 
thing, especially when they like the liquor. 

“ Oh ! you have a hand, Betty, that was formed 
to mix flip,” cried Richard, when he paused for 
breath. “ The very iron has a flavour in it. Here, 
John, drink, man, drink. I and you and Dr. Todd, 
have done a good thing with the shoulder of that 
lad this very night. ’Duke, I made a song while 
you were gone — one day when I had nothing to 
do ; so I’ll sing you a verse or two, though I haven’t 
really determined on the tune yet ; — 


What is Jife but a scene of care, 

Whore each one must toil in his way i 
Then let us be jolly, and prove that we are 
A set of good fellows, who seem very rare, 
And can laugh and sing all the day. 
Then let us be jolly. 

And cast away folly, 

For grief turns a black head to gray. 


There, ’duke, what do you think of that ^ There 
is another verse of it, all but the last line. I 
haven’t got a rhyme for the last line yet. — Well, 
old John, what do you think of the music ^ as good 
as one of your war songs, ha 

“ Good,” said Mohegan, who had been sharing 
too deeply in the potations of the landlady, besides 
paying a proper respect to the passing mugs of the 
Major and Marmaduke. 


212 


THE PIONEERS. 


“ Pi^avo ! pravo ! Richart,” cried the Major, 
whose black eyes were beginning to swim in mois- 
ture ; “ pravissimo ! it is a goot song ; put Natty 
Pumppo hast a petter. Letter-stockint, vilt sing ? 
say, oil poy, vilt sing ter song, as apout ter woots ?” 

“ No, no, Major,” returned the hunter, with a 
melancholy shake of the head, “ I have lived to see 
what I thought eyes could never behold in these 
hills, and I have no heart left for singing. If he, 
that has a right to be master and ruler here, is 
forced to squinch his thirst, when a-dry, with snow- 
water, it ill becomes them that have lived by his 
bounty to be making merry, as if there was no- 
thing in the world but sunshine and summer.” 

When he had spoken, Leather-stocking again 
dropped his head on his knees, and concealed his 
hard and wrinkled features with his hands. The 
change from the excessive cold without to the heat 
of the bar-room, coupled with the depth and fre- 
quency of Richard’s draughts, had already levelled 
whatever inequality there might have existed be- 
tween him and the other guests, on the score of 
spirits ; and he now held out a pair of swimming 
mugs of foaming flip towards the hunter, as he 
cried — 

“ Merry ! ay ! merry Christmas to you, old boy ! 
Sunshine and summer ! no ! you are blind. Leather- 
stocking, ’tis moonshine and winter ; — take these 
spectacles, and open your eyes — 

So let us be jolly, 

And cast away folly, 

For grief turns a black head to gray. 

“ Hear how old John turns his quavers. What 
damned dull music an Indian song is, after all, Ma- 
jor. I wonder if they ever sing by note.” 

While Richard was singing and talking, Mohe- 
gan was uttering dull, monotonous tones, keeping 


THE PIONEERS. 


213 


lime by a gentle motion of his head and body. He 
made use of but few words, and such as he did ut- 
ter were in his native language and consequently 
only understood by himself and Natty. Without 
heeding Richard, he continued to sing a kind of 
wild, melancholy air, that rose, at times, in sudden 
and quite elevated notes, and then fell again into 
the low, quavering sounds, that seemed to com- 
pose the character of his music. 

The attention of the company was now much di- 
vided, the men in the rear having formed them- 
selves into little groups, where they were dis- 
cussing various matters; among the principal of 
which were, the treatment of mangy hogs, and 
Parson Giant’s preaching; while Dr. Todd was 
endeavouring to explain to Marmaduke the nature 
of the hurt received by the young hunter. Mohe- 
gan continued to sing, while his countenance was 
becoming vacant, though, coupled with his thick 
bushy hair, it was assuming an expression very 
much like brutal ferocity. His notes were gradu- 
ally growing louder, and soon rose to a height that 
caused a general cessation in the discourse. The 
hunter now raised his head again, and addressed 
the old warrior, warmly, in the Delaware language, 
which, for the benefit of our readers, we shall ren- 
der freely into English. 

“ Why do you sing of your battles, Chingach- 
gook, and of the warriors you have slain, when the 
worst enemy of all is near you, and keeps the 
Young Eagle from his rights ? I have fought in as 
many battles as any warrior in your tribe, but can 
not boast of my deeds at such a time as this.” 

“ Hawk-eye,” said the Indian, tottering with a 
doubtful step from his place, “ I am the Great 
Snake of the Delawares ; I can track the Mingoes, 
like an adder that is stealing on the whip-poor-will’s 


214 


THE PIONEERS. 


eggs, and strike them, like the rattlesnake, dead at 
a blow. The white man made the tomahawk of 
Chingachgook bright as the waters of Otsego, when 
the last sun is shining ; but it is red wTth the blood 
of the Maquas.” 

“ And why have you slain the Mingo warriors ? 
Was it not to keep these hunting grounds and lakes 
to your father’s children ? and were they not given 
in solemn council to the Fire-eater ? and does not 
the blood of a warrior run in the veins of a young 
chief, who should speak aloud, where his voice is 
now too low to be heard ?” 

The appeal of the hunter seemed, in some mea- 
sure, to recall the confused faculties of the Indian, 
who turned his face towards the listeners, and gazed 
intently on the Judge. He shook his head, throw- 
ing his hair back from his countenance, and ex- 
posed his eyes, that were glaring with a fierce ex- 
pression of wild resentment. But the man was not 
himself. His hand seemed to make a fruitless ef- 
fort to release his tomahawk, which was confined 
by its handle to his belt, while his eyes gradually 
became again vacant. Richard at that instant 
thrusting a mug before him, his features changed 
to the grin of idiocy, and seizing the vessel with 
both hands, he sunk backward on the bench, and 
drank until satiated, when he made an effort to lay 
aside the mug, with the helplessness of total ine- 
briety. 

“ Shed not blood !” exclaimed the hunter, as he 
watched the countenance of the Indian in its mo- 
ment of ferocity — “ but he is drunk, and can do no 
harm. This is the way with all the savages ; give 
them liquor, and they make dogs of themselves. 
Well, well — the time will come when right will be 
done ; and we must have patience.” 

Natty still spoke in the Delaware language, and 


THE PIONEERS. 


215 


of course was not understood. He had hardly con- 
cluded, before Richard cried — 

“ Well, old John is soon sowed up. Give him 
a birth, Captain, in the barn, and I will pay for it. 
I am rich to-night, ten times richer than ’duke, 
with all his lands, and military lots, and funded 
debts, and bonds, and mortgages. 

Come let us be jolly, 

And cast away folly, 

For grief 

Drink, King Hiram- — drink, Mr. Doo-nothing — 
drink, sir, I say. This is a Christmas eve, which 
comes, you know, but once a year.” 

“ He ! he ! he ! the Squire is quite moosical to- 
night,” said Hiram, whose visage began to give 
marvellous signs of relaxation. “I rather guess 
we shall make a church on’t yet. Squire ?” 

“ A church, Mr. Doolittle ! we will make a ca- 
thedral of it ! bishops, priests, deacons, wardens, 
vestry, and choir ; organ, organist, and bellows ! 
By the lord Harry, as Benjamin says, we will clap 
a steeple on the other end of it, and make two 
churches of it. What say you, ’duke, will you pay ? 
ha ! my cousin Judge, wilt pay 

“ Thou makest such a noise, Dickon,” returned 
Marmaduke, “ it is impossible that I can hear what 
Dr. Todd is saying. — I think thou observedst, it is 
probable that the wound will fester, so as to occa- 
sion danger to the limb, in this cold weather ?” 

“ Out of nater, sir, quite out of nater;” said El- 
nathan, attempting to expectorate, but succeeding 
only in throwing a light, frothy substance, like a 
flake of snow, into the fire — “ quite out of nater, 
that a wownd so well dressed, and with the ball 
in my pocket, should fester. I s’pose, as the Judge 
talks of taking the young man into his house, it will 


216 


THE PIONEERS. 


be most convenient if I make but one charge 
on’t.” 

‘‘ I should think one would do,” returned Mar- 
maduke, with that arch smile that so often beamed 
on his face ; leaving the beholder in doubt whe- 
ther he most enjoyed the character of his compa- 
nion, or his own covert humour. 

The landlord had succeeded in placing the In- 
dian on some straw, in one of his out-buildings, 
where, covered with his own blanket, John con- 
tinued for the remainder of the night. 

In the mean time. Major Hartmann began to 
grow noisy and jocular ; glass succeeded glass, and 
mug after mug was introduced, until the carousal 
had run deep into the night, or rather morning ; 
when the veteran German expressed an inclination 
to return to the Mansion-house. Most of the party 
had already retired, but Marmaduke knew the ha- 
bits of his friend too well to suggest an earlier ad- 
journment. So soon, however, as the proposal 
was made, the Judge eagerly availed himself of it, 
and the trio prepared to depart. Mrs. Hollister at- 
tended them to the door in person, cautioning her 
guests as to the safest manner of leaving her pre- 
mises. 

“ Lane on Mister Jones, Major,” said she, “ he’s 
young, and will be a support to ye. Well, it’s a 
charming sight to see ye, any way, at the Bould Dra- 
goon : and sure its no harm to be kaping a Christ- 
mas-eve wid a light heart, for it’s no telling when 
we may have sorrow come upon us. So good 
night, Joodge, and a merry Christmas to ye all, to- 
morrow morning.” 

The gentlemen made their adieus as well as they 
could, and taking the middle of the road, which 
was a fine, wide, and well-beaten path, they did 
tolerably well until they reached the gate of the 


THE PIONEERS. 


217 


Mansion-house ; but on entering the Judge’s do- 
mains, they encountered some slight difficulties. 
We shall not stop to relate them, but will just men- 
tion that, in the morning, sundry diverging paths 
were to be seen in the snow ; and that once dur- 
ing their progress to the door, Marmaduke, missing 
his companions, was enabled to trace them by one 
of these paths to a spot, where he discovered them 
with nothing visible but their heads ; Richard sing- 
ing in a most vivacious strain, 

“ Come, let ns be jolly, 

And cast away folly. 

For grief turns a black head to gray.” 


yoL. I. 


19 


CHAPTER XV. 


“ Ai ibe luy, on that day, in tL« B*y of Biicay, O 1” 


Previously to the occurrence of the scene at 
the Bold Dragoon,” Elizabeth had been safely 
reconducted to the Mansion-house, where she was 
left, as its mistress, either to amuse or employ 
herself during the evening, as best suited her own 
inclination. — Most of the lights were extinguished ; 
but as Benjamin adjusted, with great care and re- 
gularity, four large candles, in as many massive 
candlesticks of brass, in a row on the sideboard, 
the hall possessed a peculiar air of comfort and 
warmth, contrasted with the cheerless aspect of 
the room she had left, in the academy. 

Remarkable had been one of the listeners to 
Mr. Grant, and returned with her resentment, 
which had been not a little excited by the language 
of the Judge, somewhat softened by reflection and 
the worship. She recollected the youth of Eli- 
zabeth, and thought it no diflicult task, under pre- 
sent appearances, to exercise that power indirect- 
ly, which hitherto she had enjoyed undisputed. 
The idea of being governed, or of being compel- 
led to pay the deference of servitude, was abso- 


THE PIONEERS. 


219 


lutely intolerable ; and she had already determin- 
ed within herself, some half-dozen times, to make 
an effort, that should at once bring to an issue the 
delicate point of her domestic condition. But as 
often as she met the dark, proud eye of Elizabeth, 
who was walking up and down the apartment, 
musing on the scenes of her youth, and the change 
in her condition, and perhaps the events of the 
day, the housekeeper experienced an awe, that 
she would not own to herself could be excited by 
any thing mortal. It, however, checked her ad- 
vances, and for some time held her tongue-tied. 
At length she determined to commence the dis- 
course, by entering on a subject that was apt to 
level all human distinctions, and in which she 
might display her own abilities. 

‘‘ It was quite a wordy sarmont that Parson 
Grant give us to-night,” said Remarkable. — 
“ Them church ministers be commonly smart sar- 
monizers ; but they write down their idees, which 
is a great privilege. — I don’t think that by hater 
they are sitch tonguey speakers for an off-hand dis- 
course as the standing-order ministers be.” 

‘‘ And what denomination do you distinguish as 
the standing-order?” inquired Miss Temple, with 
some surprise. 

“’IVhy, the Presbyter’ans, and Congregationals, 
and. Baptists too, for-ti-’now; and all sitch as don’t 
go on their knees to prayer.” 

“ By that rule, then, you would call those who 
belong to the persuasion of my father, the sitting- 
order,” observed Elizabeth. 

“ Pm sure I’ve never heer’n ’em spoken of by 
any other name than Quakers, so called,” returned 
Remarkable, betraying a slight uneasiness : “ 1 
should be the last one to call them otherwise, for 
I never in my life used a disparaging tarm of the 


220 


THE PIONEERS. 


Judge, or any of his^ family. I’ve always set store 
by the Quakers, they are sitch pretty-spoken, 
clever people ; and it’s a wonderment to me, how 
your daddy come to marry into a church family, 
for they are as contrary in religion as can be. One 
sits still, and, for the most part, says nothing, while 
the church folks practyse all kinds of ways, so that 
I sometimes think it quite moosical to see them ; 
for 1 went to a church-meeting once before, down 
country.” 

“You have found an excellence in the church 
liturgy, that has hitherto escaped me,” said Miss 
Temple. ‘‘ I will thank you to inquire whether 
the fire in my room burn? : I feel fatigued with my 
day’s journey, and will retire.” 

Remarkable felt a wonderful inclination to tell 
the young mistress of the mansion, that by open- 
ing a door she might see for herself ; but prudence 
got the better of her resentment, and after pausing 
some little time, as a salvo to her dignity, she did 
as desired. The report was favourable, and the 
young lady, wishing Benjamin, who was filling the 
stove with wood, and the housekeeper, each a 
good night, withdrew. 

The instant that the door closed on Miss Tem- 
ple, Remarkable commenced a sort of mysterious, 
ambiguous discourse, that was neither abusive nor 
commendatory of the qualities of the absent per- 
sonage ; but which seemed to be drawing nigh, by 
regular degrees, to a most dissatisfied description. 
The Major-domo made no reply, but continued his 
occupation with great industry, which being hap- 
pily completed, he took a look at the thermome- 
ter, and then, opening a drawer of the sideboard, 
he produced a supply of stimulants, that would 
have served to keep the warmth in his system, 
without the aid of the enormous fire he had been 


THE PIOI^EERS. 


22\ 

building. A small stand was drawn up near the 
stove, and the bottles and the glasses necessary 
for convenience, were quietly arranged. Tw^o 
chairs were placed by the side of this comfortable 
situation, when Benjamin, for the first time, ap- 
peared to observe his companion. 

“ Come,” he cried, come. Mistress Remarka- 
ble, bring yourself to an anchor in this here chair. 
It’s a peeler without, I can tell you, good woman ; 
but what cares I ? blow high or blow low, d’ye see, 
it’s all the same thing to Ben. The niggers are 
snug stowed below, before a fire that would roast 
an ox w hole. The thermometer stands now at 
fiity-five, but if there’s any vartue in good maple 
wood, i’ll weather upon it, before one glass, as 
much as ten points more, so that the Squire, when 
he comes home from Betty Hollister’s warm room, 
will feel as hot as a hand that has given the rigging 
a lick with bad tar. Come, Mistress, bring up in 
this here chair, and tell me how it is you like oiu 
new heiress.” 

“ Why, to my notion, Mr. Penguillum” — 

“ Pump — Pump,” interrupted Benjamin ; ‘‘ it’s 
Christmas-eve, Mistress Remarkable, and so, d’ye 
see, you had better call me Pump. It’s a shorter 
name, and as I mean to pump this here decanter 
till it sucks, why you may as well call me Pump.” 

‘‘ Did you ever!” cried Remarkable, with a 
laugh that seemed to unhinge every joint in her 
body. “ You’re a moosical creater, Benjamin, 
when the notion takes you. But as I was saying, 
I rather guess that times will be altered now in this 
house.” 

‘‘ Alteiedl” exclaimed the Major-domo, eyeing 
the bottle, that was assuming the clear aspect of 
cut glass with astonishing rapidity ; “ it don’t mat- 
19 * 


222 


THE PIONEERS. 


ter much, Mistress Remarkable, so long as I keep 
the keys of the lockers in my pocket.” 

“ I can’t say,” continued the house>keeper, but 
there’s good eatables and drinkables enough in the 
house for a body’s content — a little more sugar, 
Benjamin, in the glass — for Squire Jones is an ex- 
cellent provider. But new lords, new laws ; and 
I shouldn’t wonder, if you and 1 had an unsartain 
time on’t in footer.” 

“ Life is as unsartain as the wind that blows,” 
said Benjamin, with a most imposingly moralizing 
air ; — “ and nothing is more vari’ble than the wind. 
Mistress Remarkable, unless you happen to fall in 
with the trades, d’ye see, and then you may run 
for the matter of a month at a time, with studding- 
sails on both sides alow and aloft, and with the ca- 
bin-boy at the wheel.” 

“ I know that life is disp’ut unsartain,” said Re- 
markable, compressing her features to the humour 
of her companion ; but I expect there will be 
great changes made in the house to rights ; and 
that you will find a young man put over your head, 
as well as there is one that wants to be over mine ; 
and after having been settled as long as you have, 
Benjamin, I should judge that to be hard.” 

“ Promotion should go according to length of 
sarvice,” said the Major-domo ; “ and if-so-be that 
they ship a hand for my birth, or place a new stew- 
ard aft, I shall throw up my commission in less 
time than you can put a pilot-boat in stays. Thof 
Squire Dickens,” — this was a common misnomer 
with Benjamin, — “ is a nice gentleman, and as good 
a man to sail with as heart could wish, yet I shall 
tell the Squire, d’ye see, in plain English, and 
that’s my native tongue, that if-so-be he is think- 
ing of putting any Johnny-raw over my head, why 


THE PIONEERS. 


223 


I shall resign. I began forrard, Mistress Pretty- 
bones, and worked my way aft, like a man. I was 
six months aboard a Garnsey lugger, hauling in the 
slack of the lee-sheet, and coiling up rigging. 
From that 1 went a few trips in a fore-and-after, 
in the same trade, which, after all, was but a blind 
kind of sailing in the dark, where a man larns but 
little, excepting how to steer by the stars. Well, 
then, d’ye see, 1 larnt how a topmast should be 
slushed, and how a top-gallant-sail was to be beck- 
etted ; and then 1 did small jobs in the cabin, such 
as mixing the skipper’s grog. ’Twas there I got 
my taste, w^hich, you must have often seen, is ex- 
cellent. — Well, here’s better acquaintance to us.” 

Remarkable nodded a return to the compliment, 
and took a .sip of the beverage before her ; for, pro- 
vided it was w^ell sweetened, she had no objection 
to a small potation now and then. After this ob- 
servance of courtesy between the worthy couple, 
the dialogue proceeded as follows : 

“ You have had great cxperunces in your life, 
Benjamin ; for, as the scripter says, ‘ they that go 
down to the sea in ships see the works of the 
Lord.’” 

“ Ay ! for that matter, they in brigs and schoo- 
ners too ; and it moiTght say, the works of the devil. 
The sea. Mistress Remaikable, is a great advan- 
tage to a man, in the w^ay of knowledge, for he 
sees the fashions of nations, and the shape of a 
country. Now, I suppose, for myself here, who is 
but an unlarned man to some that follows the seas, 
I suppose that, taking the coast from cape Ler- 
Hogue as low down as Cape Finish- there, there 
isn’t so much as a head-land, or an island, that I 
don’t know either the name of it, or something 
more or less about it. — Take enough, woman, to 
colour the water. Here’s sugar. It’s a sweet 


224 


THE PIONEERS. 


tooth, that fellow that you hold on upon yet, Mis- 
tress Pretty-bones. — But, as I was saying, take the 
whole coast along, I know it as well as the way 
from here to the Bold Dragoon ; and a devil of an 
acquaintance is that Bay of Biscay. Whew ! I 
wish you could but hear the wind blow there. It 
sometimes takes two to hold one man’s hair on his 
head. Scudding through the Bay is pretty much 
the same thing as travelling the roads in this coun- 
try, up one side of a mountain, and down the 
other.” 

‘‘ I)o tell !” exclaimed Remarkable ; “ and does 
the sea run as high as mountains, Benjamin ?” 

‘‘ Well, I will tell ; but first let’s taste the grog. 
— Hem ! it’s the right kind of stuff, I must say, that 
you keeps in this country ; but then you’re so close 
aboard the West-Indies, you make but a small run 
of it. By the lord Harry, woman, if Garnsey only 
lay somewhere between Cape Hatteras and the 
Bite of Logann, but you’d see rum cheap ! As to 
the seas, they runs more in Uppers in the Bay of 
Biscay, unless it may be in a sow- wester, when 
they tumble about quite handsomely ; thof its not 
in the narrow seas that you are to look for a swell ; 
just go off the Western Islands, in a westerly blow, 
keeping the land on your larboard hand, with the 
ship’s head to the south’ard, and bring too, under 
a close-reef’d topsail ; or, mayhap, a reef’d fore- 
sail, with a fore-top-mast-staysail ; and mizzen- 
staysail, to keep her up to the sea, if she will beai 
it ; and lay there for the matter of two watches, if 
you want to see mountains. Why, good woman, 
I’ve been off there in the Boadishey frigate, when 
you could see nothing but some such matter as a 
piece of sky, mayhap, as big as the mainsail ; and 
then again, there was a hole under your lee-quar- 
ter, big enough to hold the whole British navy.” 


THE PIONEERS. 


225 


“ Oh ! for massy’s sake ! and wan’t you afeard, 
Benjamin ? and how did you get off* ?” 

“ Afeard ! who the devil do you think was to be 
frightened at a little salt water tumbling about his 
head ? As for getting off*, when we had enough of 
it, and had washed our decks down pretty well, 
we called all hands, for, d’ye see, the watch below 
was in their hammocks, all the same as if they were 
in one of your best bed-rooms ; and so we watch- 
ed for a smooth time ; clapt her helm hard a-wea- 
ther, let fall the foresail, and got the tack aboard ; 
and so, when we got her afore it, I ask you. Mis- 
tress Pretty-bones, if she didn’t walk ? didn’t she ! 
I’m no liar, good woman, when I say that I saw 
that ship jump from the top of one sea to another, 
just like one of these squirrels that can fly jum})s 
from tree to tree.” 

“ What, clean out of the water !” exclaimed Re- 
markable, lifting her two lank arms, with their bony 
hands spread in astonishment. 

“It was no such easy matter to get out of the 
water, good woman ; for the spray flew so that you 
couldn’t tell which was sea and which was cloud. 
So there we kept her afore it, for the matter of two 
glasses. The first lieutenant he cun’d the ship 
himself, and there was four quarter-masters at the 
wheel, besides the master, with six forecastle men 
in the gun-room, at the relieving tackles. But then 
she behaved herself so well ! Oh ! she was a sweet 
ship, mistress ! That one frigate was well worth 
more, to live in, than the best house in the island. 
If 1 was king of England, I’d have her hauled up 
above Lon’on bridge, and fit her up for a palace ; 
because why ? if any body can afford to live com 
fortably, his majesty can.” 

“ Well ! but Benjamin,” cried the listener, who 


226 


THE PIONEERS. 


was in an ecstasy of astonishment, at this relation 
of the steward’s dangers, ‘‘ what did you do ?” 

“ Do ! why we did our duty, like good hearty 
fellows. Now if the countrymen of Mounsheer Ler 
Quaw had been aboard of her, they would have just 
struck her ashore on some of them small islands ; 
but we run along the land, until we found her dead 
to leeward off the mountains of Pico, and dam’me 
if 1 know to this day how we got there, whether 
we jumped over the island, or hauled round it ; — 
but there we was, and there we lay, under easy 
sail, fore-reaching, first upon one tack and then 
upon t’other, so as to poke her nose out now and 
then, and lake a look to wind’ard, till the gale 
Mow’d its pipe out.” 

“ I wonder now !” exclaimed Remarkable, to 
whom most of the terms used by Benjamin were 
perfectly unintelligible, but who had got a confused 
idea of a raging tempest. “ It must be an awful life, 
that going to sea ! and I don’t feel astonishment 
that you’re so affronted with the thoughts of being 
forced to quit a comfortable home like this. Not 
that a body cares much for’t, as there’s more houses 
than one to live in. Why, when the Judge agreed 
w ith me to come and live with him, I’d no more 
notion of stopping any time than any thing. 1 
happened in, just to see how the family did, about 
a week after Miss Temple died, thinking to be 
back home agin night ; but the family was in sitch 
a distressed way, that I couldn’t but stop awhile, 
and help ’em on. I thought the sitooation a good 
one, seeing that I was an unmarried body, and they 
w'ere so much in want of help ; so I tarried.” 

“ And a long time have you left your anchors 
down in the same place, mistress. I think you must 
find that the ship rides easy 


THE PIOIVEERS. 


227 


“ How you talk, Benjamin ! there’s no believing 
a word you say. I must say that the Judge and 
Squire Jones have both acted quite clever, so long ; 
but I see that now we shall have a specimen to the 
contrary. I heer’n say that the Judge was gone a 
great ’broad, and that he meant to bring his darter 
hum, but I did’nt calcoolate on sitch carrins on. 
To my notion, Benjamin, she’s likely to turn out a 
desput ugly gall.” 

“ Ugly !” echoed the Major-domo, opening his 
eyes, that were beginning to close in a very suspi- 
cious sleepiness, in wide amazement. “ By the 
lord Harry, woman, I should as soon think of call- 
ing the Boadishey a clumsy frigate. What the 
devil would you have ? arn’t her eyes as bright as 
the morning and evening stars ! and isn’t her hair 
as black and glistening as rigging that has just had 
a lick of tar ! does’nt she move as stately as a first- 
rate in smooth water, on a bow-line ! Why, wo- 
man, the figure-head of the Boadishey was a fool 
to her, and that, as I’ve often heard the captain 
say, was an image of a great Queen ; and arn’t 
Queens always comely, w’oman ? for who do you 
think would be a King, and not choose a handsome 
bedfellow' 

Talk decent, Benjamin,” said the housekeep- 
er, “ or I won’t keep your company. I don’t gain- 
say her being comely to look on, but I will main- 
tain, that she’s likely to show but poor conduct. 
She seems to think herself too good to talk to a 
poor body. From what Squire Jones had tell’d 
me, I some expected to be quite captivated by her 
company. Now, to my reckoning, Lowizy Grant 
is much more pritty behaved than Betsy Temple. 
She wouldn’t so much as hold discourse with me, 
when I wanted to ask her how she felt, on coming 
home and missing her mammy.” 


228 


THE PIONEERS. 


“ Perhaps she didn’t understand you, woman ; 
you are none of the best linguister ; and then Miss 
Lizzy has been exercising the King’s English un- 
der a great Lon’on lady, and, for that matter, can 
talk the language almost as well as myself, or any 
native born British subject. You’ve forgot your 
schooling, and the young mistress is a great scol- 
lard.” 

“ Mistress !” cried Remarkable ; “ don’t make 
one out to be a nigger, Benjamin. She’s no mis- 
tress of mine, and never will be. And as to speech, 
I hold myself as second to nobody out of New 
England. I was born and raised in Essex county ; 
and I’ve always heer’n say, that the Bay State was 
provarbal for pronounsation !” 

“ I’ve often heard of that Bay of State,” said 
Benjamin, “ but can’t say that I’ve ever been in it, 
nor do I know exactly where away it is that it lays ; 
but I suppose that there is good anchorage in it, 
and that it’s no bad place for the taking of ling ; but 
for size, it can’t be so much as a yawl to a sloop 
of war, compared with the Bay of Biscay, or, may- 
hap, Tor-bay. And as for language, if you want 
to hear the dictionary overhauled, like a long-line 
in a blow, you must go to Wapping, and listen to 
the Lon’oners, as they deal out their lingo. How- 
some ver, I see no such mighty matter that Miss 
Lizzy has been doing to you, good woman, so take 
another drop of your brew, and forgive and forget, 
like an honest soul.” 

“ No, indeed ! and I shan’t do sitch a thing, 
Benjamin. This treatment is a newity to me, and 
what I won’t put up with. I have a hundred and 
fifty dollars at use, besides a bed and twenty sheep, 
to good ; and I don’t crave to live in a house where 
a body mus’nt call a young woman by her given 
name to her face. I will call her Betsy as much 


THE PIONEERS. 


229 


as I please ; it’s a free country, and no one can stop 
me. I did intend to stop while summer, but I shall 
qtiit to-morrow mornine; ; and I will talk just as I 
please.” 

“ For that matter. Mistress Remarkable,” said 
Benjamin, “ there’s none here who will contradict 
you, for I’m of opinion that it would be as easy to 
stop a hurricane with a Barcelony hankerehy, as to 
bring up your tongue, when the stopper is off. I 
say, good woman, do they grow many monkeys 
along the shores of that Bay of State ?” 

“ You’re a monkey yourself, Mr. Penguillum,” 
cried the enraged housekeeper, “ or a bear ! a 
black, beastly bear ! and an’t fit for a decent wo- 
man to stay with. I’ll never keep your company 
agin, sir, if I should live thirty years with the 
Judge. Sitch talk is more befitting the kitchen 
than the keeping-room of a house of one who is 
well to do in the world.” 

“ Look you. Mistress Pitty — Patty — Pretty- 
bones, mayhap I’m some such matter as a bear, 
d’ye see, as they will find who come to grapple 
with me ; but dam’me if I’m a monkey — a thing 
that chatters without knowing a word of what it 
says — a parrot ; that will hold a dialogue, for what 
an honest man knows, in a dozen languages ; may- 
hap in the Bay of State lingo ; mayhap in Greek 
or High Dutch. But dost it know what it means 
itself? canst answer me that, good woman ? Your 
Midshipman can sing out, and pass the word, when 
the Captain gives the order, but just set him adrift 
by himself, and let him work the ship of his own 
head, and, stop my grog, if you don’t find all the 
Johny-raws laughing at him.” 

‘‘ Stop your grog, indeed !” said Remarkable, 
rising with great indignation, and seizing a candle ; 

VOL. I. 20 


230 


THE PIONEERS. 


“you’re groggy now, Benjamin, and I’ll quit the 
room before I hear any of your misbecoming words 
from you.” 

The housekeeper retired, with a manner but lit- 
tle less dignified, as she thought, than the air ol 
the stately heiress, muttering, as she drew the door 
after her, with a noise like the report of a musket, 
the opprobrious terms of “ drunkard,” “ sot,” and 
“ beast.” 

, “ Who’s that you say is drunk ?” cried Benja- 
min, fiercely, rising and making a movement to- 
wards Remarkable. “ You talk of mustering your- 
self with a lady ! you’re just fit to grumble and find 
fault. Where the devil should you larn behaviour 
and dictionary ? in your damned Bay of State, 
ha ?” 

Benjamin here fell back in his chair, and soon 
gave vent to certain ominous sounds, which re- 
sembled, not a little, the growling of his favourite 
animal, the bear itself. Before, however, he was 
quite locked, to use the language that would suit 
the Della-cruscan humour of certain refined critics 
of the present day, “ in the arms of Morpheus,” 
he spoke aloud, observing due pauses between his 
epithets, the impressive terms of “ monkey,” “ par- 
rot,” “pic-nic,” “ tar-pot,” and “ linguisters.” 

We will not attempt to explain his meaning, nor 
connect his sentences, and our readers must be sa- 
tisfied with our informing them, that they were 
expressed with all that coolness of contempt, that 
a man might well be supposed to feel for a mon- 
key. 

Nearly two hours passed in this sleep, before 
the Major-domo was awakened by the noisy en- 
trance of Richard, Major Hartmann, and the mas- 
ter of the mansion. Benjamin so far rallied his 


THE PIONEERS. 


231 


confused faculties, as to shape the course of the 
two former to their respective apartments, when 
he disappeared himself, leaving the task of secur- 
ing the house to him who was most interested in 
its safety. Locks and bars were but little attend- 
ed to in the early day of that settlement ; and so 
soon as Marmaduke had given an eye to the enor- 
mous fires of his dwelling, he retired. And with 
this act of prudence closes the first night of our 
tale. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


Watch, {aside) Some treason, masters — 

Yet stand close.” 

Much ado about nothing. 

It was fortunate for more than one of the bac- 
chanalians, who left the “ Bold Dragoon” late in 
the evening, that the severe cold of the season 
was becoming, rapidly, less dangerous, as they 
threaded the different mazes, through the snow- 
banks, that led to their respective dwellings. Thin, 
driving clouds began, towards morning, to flit across 
the heavens, and the moon sat behind a volume of 
vapour, that was impelled furiously towards the 
north, carrying with it the softer atmosphere from 
the distant ocean. The rising sun was obscured 
by denser and increasing-columns of clouds, while 
the southerly wind, that rushed up the valley, 
brought the never failing-symptoms of a thaw. 

It was quite late in the morning, before Eliza- 
beth, observing the faint glow which appeared on 
the eastern mountain, long after the light of the sun 
had struck the opposite hills, ventured from the 
house, with a view to gratify her curiosity with a 
glance by daylight at the surrounding objects, be- 
fore the tardy revellers of the Christmas-eve 
should make their appearance at the breakfast-ta- 
ble. While she was drawing the folds of her pe 


THE PIONEERS. 


233 


lisse more ciosely around her form, to guard against 
a cold that was yet great, though rapidly yielding, 
in the small enclosure that opened in the rear of the 
house on a little thicket of low pines, that were 
springing up where trees of a mightier growth had 
lately stood, she was surprised at the voice of Mr. 
Jones, crying aloud — 

“ Merry Christmas, merry Christmas to you, 
cousin Bess. Ah, ha! an early riser, I see; but I 
knew I should steal a march on you. I never was 
in a house yet, where I didn’t get the first Christ- 
mas greeting on every soul in it, man, woman, and 
child ; great and small ; black, white, and yellow-. 
But stop a minute, till I can just slip on my coat ; 
you are about to look at the improvements, I see, 
which no one can explain so well as I, who planned 
them all. It wdll be an hour before ’duke and the 
Major can sleep olf Mrs. Hollister’s confounded 
distillations, and so I’ll come down and go with 
you.” 

Elizabeth turned, and observed her cousin in 
his night-cap, with his head out of his bed -room 
window, where his zeal for pre-eminence, in defi- 
ance of the weather, had impelled him to thrust 
it. She laughed, and promising to wait for his 
company, she re-entered the house, making her 
appearance again, holding in her hand a packet 
that was secured by several large and important 
seals, just in time to meet the gentleman. 

“ Come, Bessy, come,” he cried, drawing one 
of her arms through his own ; “ the snow begins 
to give, but it will bear us yet. Don’t you snufl' 
old Pennsylvania in the very air ? This is a vile 
climate, girl ; now^ at sunset, last evening, it was 
cold enough to freeze a man’s zeal, and that, I can 
tell you, takes a thermometer near zero for me ; 
then about nine or ten it began to moderate ; at 
20 ^ 


234 


THE PIONEERS. 


twelve it was quite mild, and here all the rest of 
the night I have been so hot as not to bear a blan- 
ket on the bed. — Holla! Aggy, — merry Christ- 
mas, Aggy — I say, do you hear me, you black dog ! 
there’s a dollar for you ; and if the gentlemen get 
up before I come back, do you come out and let 
me know. I wouldn’t have ’duke get the start of 
me for the worth of your head.” 

The black caught the money from the snow, and 
promising a due degree of watchfulness, he gave 
the dollar a whirl in the air of twenty feet, and 
catching it as it fell, in the palm of his hand, he 
withdrew to the kitchen, to exhibit his present, 
with a heart as light as his face was happy in its 
expression. 

“ Oh, rest easy, my dear coz,” said the young 
lady ; I took a look in at my father, who is like- 
ly to sleep an hour ; and by using due vigilance 
you will secure all the honours of the season.” 

“Why, ’duke is your father, Elizabeth; but 
’duke is a man who likes to be foremost, even in 
trifles. Now, as for myself, I care for no such 
things, except in 'the way of competition; for a 
thing, which is of no moment in itself, may be made 
of importance in the way of competition. So it 
is with your father — he loves to be first ; but I only 
struggle with him as a competitor, like.” 

“ Oh ! it’s all very clear, sir,” said Elizabeth ; 
“ you would not care a fig for distinction, if there 
were no one in the world but yourself; but as 
there happen to be a great many others, why, you 
must struggle with them all — in the way of com 
petition.” 

“ Exactly so ; I see you are a clever girl, Bess, 
and one who does credit to her masters. It was 
my plan to send you to that school ; for when your 
father first mentioned the thing, I wrote a private 


THE PIONEERS. 


235 


letter for advice to a judicious friend in the city, 
who recommended the very school you went to. 
’Duke was a little obstinate at first, as usual, but 
when he heard the truth, he was oblked to send 
you.” ^ 

“ Well, a truce to ’duke’s foibles, sir ; he is my 
father ; and if you knew what he has been doing 
for you while w^e were in Albany, you would deal 
more tenderly with his character.” 

“For me!” cried Richard, pausing a moment 
in his walk to reflect. “ Oh ! he got the plans of 
the new Dutch meeting-house for me, I suppose ; 
but 1 care very little about it, for a man, of a cer- 
tain kind of talent, is seldom aided by any such 
foreign suggestions : his own brain is the best ar- 
chitect.” 

“ No such thing,” said Elizabeth, looking pro- 
vokingly knowing. 

“ No ! let me see — perhaps he had my name 
put in the bill for the new turnpike, as a director ?” 

“ He might possibly ; but it is not to such an 
appointment that I allude.” 

“ Such an appointment !” repeated Mr. Jones, 
who began to fidget with curiosity ; “ then it is 
an appointment. If it is in the militia, I won’t 
take it.” 

“ No, no, it is not in the militia,” cried Eliza- 
beth, showing the packet in her hand, and then 
drawing it back, with a coquettish air ; “ it is an 
office of both honour and emolument.” 

“Honour and emolument I” echoed Richard, in 
painful suspense ; “ show me the paper, girl. Say, 
is it an office where there is any thing to do ?” 

“ You have hit it, cousin Dickon ; it is the ex- 
ecutive office of -the county ; at least so said my 
father, when he gave me this packet to offer you 
as a Christmas-box. — “ Surely, if any thing will 


236 


THE PIONEERS. 


please Dickon,’ he said, ‘ it will be to fill the ex- 
ecutive chair of the county.’ ” 

“ Executive chair ! what nonsense !” cried the 
impatient gentleman, snatching the packet from her 
hand ; “ there is no such office in the county. Eh ! 
what ! it is, I declare, a commission, appointing 
Richard Jones, Esquire, Sheriff of the county. 
Well, this is kind in ’duke, positively. I must say 
’duke has a warm heart, and never forgets his 
friends. Sheriff! High Sheriff of — — ! It sounds 
well, Bess, but it shall execute better. ’Duke is 
a judicious man, after all, and knows human nature 
thoroughly. I’m much obliged to him,” continued 
Richard, using the skirt of his coat, unconsciously, 
to wipe his eyes ; ‘‘ tliough I would do as much for 
him any day, as he shall see, if 1 have an oppoi - 
tunity to perform any of the duties of my office 
on him. It shall be done, cousin Bess — it shall be 
done I say. — How this cursed south wind makes 
my eyes water.” 

“ Now, Richard,” said the laughing maiden, 
“ now I think you will find something to do. I 
have often heard you complain of old, that there 
was nothing to do in this new country, while to 
my eyes it seemed as if every thing remained to 
be done.” 

“ Do !” echoed Richard, who blew his nose, 
raised his little form to its greatest elevation, and 
looked prodigiously serious. “ Every thing de- 
pends on system, my girl. I shall sit down this 
afternoon, and systematize the county. I must 
have deputies^ you know. I will divide the coun- 
ty into districts, over which I will place my depu- 
ties ; and I will have one for the village, which I 
will call my home department.. Let me see — 
oh ! Benjamin ! yes, Benjamin w ill make a good 
deputy ; he has been naturalized, and would 


THE PIONEERS. 


237 


swer admirably, if he could only ride on horse- 
back.” 

“ Yes, Mr. Sheriff,” said his companion, “ and 
as he understands ropes so well, he would be very 
expert, should occasion happen for his services, in 
the way of Jack Ketch.” 

“ No,” interrupted the other, “ I flatter myself 

that no one could hang a man better than that 

is — ha — oh ! yes, Benjamin would do extremely 
well, in such an unfortunate dilemma, if he could 
be persuaded to attempt it. But I should despair 
of the thing. I never could induce him to hang, 
or teach him to ride on horseback. I must seek 
another deputy.” 

‘‘ Well, sir, as you have abundant leisure for 
all these important affairs, I beg that you will for- 
get that you are High Sheriff, and devote some 
little of your time to gallantry. Where are the 
beauties and improvements which you were to 
show me 

“ Where ? why every where. Here I have laid 
out some new streets ; and when they are opened, 
and the trees felled, and they are all built up, will 
they not make a fine town ? Well, ’duke is a li- 
beral-hearted fellow, with all his stubbornness. — 
Yes, yes, I must have at least four deputies, be- 
sides a jailer.” 

“ I see no streets in the direction of our walk,” 
said Elizabeth, “ unless' you call the short ave- 
nues through these pine bushes by that name. 
Surely you do not contemplate building houses, 
very soon, in that forest before us, and in those 
swamps.” 

“ We must run our streets by the compass, coz, 
and disregard trees, hills, ponds, stumps, or, in 
fact, any thing but posterity. Such is the will of 
your father, and your father, you know” — 


238 


TH£ PIONEERS. 


‘‘ Had you made Sheriff, Mr. Jones,” interrupt- 
ed the lady, with a tone which said very plainly to 
the gentleman, that he was touching a forbidden 
subject. 

“ 1 know it, I know it,” cried Richard ; “ and 
if it were in my power, Pd make ’duke a king. 
He is a noble-hearted fellow, and would make an 
excellent king ; that is, if he had a good prime mi- 
nister. — But who have w^e here ? voices in the 
bushes ; — a combination about mischief. I’ll wager 
my commission. Let us draw near, and examine 
a little into the matter.” 

During this dialogue, as the parties had kept in 
motion, Richard and his cousin advanced some dis- 
tance from the house, into the open space in the 
rear of the village, where, as may be gathered from 
the conversation, streets were planned, and future 
dwellings contemplated ; but where, in truth, the 
only mark of improvement that w^as to be seen, 
w as a neglected clearing along the skirt of a dark 
forest of mighty pines, over w’hich the bushes or 
sprouts of the same tree had sprung up, to a height 
that interspersed the fields of snow with little 
thickets of evergreen. The rushing of the wind, 
as it whistled through the tops of these mimic trees, 
prevented the footsteps of the pair from being 
heard, while their branches concealed their per- 
sons. Thus aided, the listeners drew nigh to a 
spot, where the young hunter. Leather-stocking, 
and the Indian chief, were collected in an earnest 
consultation. The former was urgent in his man- 
ner, and seemed to think the subject of deep im- 
portance, while Natty appeared to listen, with more 
than his usual attention, to what the other was 
saying. Mohegan stood a little on one side, with 
his head sunken on his chest, his hair falling for- 
ward, so as to conceal most of his features, and 


THE PIONJJEIIS. 


239 


his whole attitude express! v^e of deep dejection, if 
not of shame. 

“ Let us withdraw,” whispered Elizabeth; “we 
are intruders, and can have no right to listen to the 
secrets of these men.” 

“ No right !” returned Richard, a little impa- 
tiently, in the same tone, and drawing her arm so 
ibrcibiy through his own as to prevent her retreat ; 
“ you forget, cousin, that it is my duty to preserve 
the peace of the county, and see the laws executed. 
These wanderers frequently commit depredations ; 
though I do not think John would do any thing se- 
cretly. Poor fellow ! he was quite boozy last 
night, and hardly seems to be over it yet. Let us 
draw nigher, and hear what they say.” 

Notwithstanding the lady’s reluctance, Richard, 
stimulated doubtless by bis nice sense of duty, pre- 
vailed ; and they were soon so near as distinctly to 
hear sounds. 

“ The bird must be had,” said Natty, “ by fair 
means or foul. Heigho ! Pve known the time, lad, 
when the wild turkeys wasn’t over scarce in the 
country ; though you must go into the Virginy 
gaps, if you want them for the feathers. To be 
sure, there is a different taste to a partridge, and a 
well-fattened turkey ; though, to my eating, bea- 
ver’s tail and bear’s hams makes the best of food. 
But then every one has his own appetite. I gave 
the last farthing, all to that shilling, to the French 
trader, this very morning, as I came through the 
town, for powder; so, as you have nothing, we can 
have but one shot for it. I know that Billy Kirby 
IS out, and means to have a pull of the trigger at 
that very turkey. John has a true eye for a single 
fire, and somehow, my hand shakes so, whenever 
I have to do any thing extra wnary, that I often lose 
my aim. Now, when I killed the she-bear this fall, 


240 


THE PIONEERS. 


with her cubs, though they were so mighty raven- 
ous, I knocked them over one at a shot, and loaded 
while I dodged the trees in the bargain ; but this is 
a very different thing, Mr. Oliver.” 

“ This,” cried the young man with an accent 
that sounded as if he took a bitter pleasure in his 
poverty, while he held a shilling up before his eyes 
— “ this is all the treasure that I possess — this and 
my rifle ! Now, indeed, I have become a man of 
the woods, and must place my sole dependence on 
the chase. Come, Natty, let us stake the last 
penny for the bird; with your aim, it cannot fail to 
be successful.” 

[ “ I would rather it should be John, lad ; my heart 

jumps into my mouth, because you set your mind 
so much on’t; and Pm sartain that I shall miss the 
bird. Them Indians can shoot one time as well as 
another ; nothing ever troubles them. I say, John, 
here’s a shilling ; take my rifle, and get a shot at 
the big turkey they’ve put up at the stump. Mr. 
Oliver is over anxious for the creater, and I’m sure 
to do nothing when I have over anxiety about it.” 

The Indian turned his head gloomily, and, after 
looking keenly for a moment, in profound silence, 
at his companions, he replied — 

“ When John was young, eyesight was not 
straighter than his bullet. The Mingo squaws 
cried out at the sound of his rifle. The Mingo 
warriors were made squaws. When did he ever 
shoot twice ! The eagle went above the clouds, 
when he passed the wigwam of Chingachgook ; his 
feathers were plenty with the women. — But see,” 
he said, raising his voice, from the low, mournful 
tones in which he had spoken, to a pitch of keen 
excitement, and stretching forth both hands — “ they 
shake like a deer at the wolf’s howl. Is John old ? 
When was a Mohican a squaw, with seventy win 


THE PIONEERS. 


241 


ters! No! the white man brings old age with 
him — rum is his tomahawk!’’ 

“ Why then do you use it, old man ?” exclaimed 
the young hunter ; “ why will one, so noble by na- 
ture, aid the devices of the devil, by making him- 
self a beast !” 

“ Beast ! is John a beast ?” replied the Indian, 
slowly ; “ yes ; you say no lie, child of the Fire- 
eater ! John is a beast. The smokes were once 
few in these hills. The deer would lick the hand 
of a white man, and the birds rest on his head. 
They were strangers to him. My fathers came 
from the shores of the salt lake. They fled before 
rum. They came to their grandfather, and they 
lived in peace ; or, when they did raise the hatchet, 
it was to strike it into the brain of a Mingo. They 
gathered around the council-fire, and what they said 
was done. Then John was a man. But warriors 
and traders with light eyes followed them. One 
brought the long knife, ajjd one brought rum. 
They were more than the pines on the mountains ; 
and they broke up the councils, and took the lands. 
The evil spirit was in their jugs, and they let him 
loose. — Yes, yes — you say no lie. Young Eagle ; 
John is a beast.” 

“ Forgive me, old warrior,” cried the youth, 
grasping his hand ; “ I should be the last to reproach 
you. The curses of heaven light on the cupidity 
that has destroyed such a race. Remember, John, 
that I am of your family, and it is now my greatest 
pride.” 

The muscles of Mohegan relaxed a little, and he 
said more mildly — 

‘‘You are a Delaware, my son ; your words are 
not heard. — ^John cannot shoot.” 

“ I thought that lad had Indian blood in him,” 
whispered Richard, “ by the awkward way he han- 

VOL. I. 21 


242 


THE PIONEERS. 


died my horses last night. Vou see, coz, they 
never use harness. But the poor fellow shall have 
two shots at the turkey, if he wants it, for Pll give 
iiim another shilling myself; though, perhaps, I 
had better offer to shoot for him. They have got 
up their Christmas sports, I find, in the bushes 
yonder, w'here you hear .the laughter ; — though it 
is a queer taste this chap has for turkey ; not but 
what it is good eating too.” 

“ Hold, cousin Richard,” exclaimed Elizabeth, 
clinging to his arm, “ would it be delicate to offer 
a shilling to that gentleman ?” 

“ Gentleman again ! do you think a half-breed, 
like him, will refuse money ? No, no, girl ; be will 
take the shilling ; ay ! and even rum too, notwith- 
standing he moralizes so much about it. — But Pll 
give the lad a chance for his turkey, for that Billy 
Kirby is one of the best marksmen in the country ; 
that is, if we except the — the gentleman.” 

“ Then,” said Elizabeth, who found her strength 
unequal to her will, “ then, sir, I will speak.”-— 
She advanced, with an air of proud determination, 
in front of her cousin, and entered the little circle 
of bushes that surrounded the trio of hunters. 
Her appearance startled the youth, who at first 
made an unequivocal motion towards retiring, but, 
recollecting himself, bowed, by lifting his cap, and 
resumed his attitude of leaning on his rifle. Nei- 
ther Natty nor Mohegan betrayed any emotion, 
though the appearance of Elizabeth w'as so entirely 
unexpected. 

“ I find,” she said, “ that the old Christmas sport 
of shooting the turkey is yet in use among you. — 
I feel inclined to try my chance for a bird. Which 
of you will take this money, and, after paying my 
fee, give me the aid of his rifle 

“Is this a sport for a lady !” exclaimed the 


THE PIONEERS. 


243 


young hunter, with an emphasis that could not 
well be mistaken, and with a rapidity that show- 
ed he spoke without consulting any thing but 
feeling. 

Why not, sir returned the maiden. “ If it 
be inhuman, the sin is not confined to one sex only. 
But I have my humour as well as others. J ask 
not your assistance, sir ; but*’ — turning to Natty, 
and dropping a dollar in his hand — “ this old vete- 
ran of the forest will not be so ungallant, as to re- 
fuse one fire for a lady.” 

Leather-stocking dropped the money into his 
pouch, and throwing up the end of his rifle, he 
freshened his priming ; and, first laughing in his 
usual manner, he threw the piece over his shoul- 
der, and said— 

“If Billy Kirby don’t get the bird before me, 
and the Frenchman’s powder don’t hang fire this 
damp morning, you’ll see as fine a turkey dead, 
in a few minutes, as ever was eaten in the Judge’s 
wshanty. I have know’d the Dutch women, on the 
Mohawk and Scoharie, count greatly on coming to 
them merry-makings ; and so, lad, you shouldn’t 
be short with the lady. Come, let us go forward, 
for if we w’ait, the finest bii-d wdll be gone.” 

“ But I have a right before you. Natty, and 
shall try my own luck first. You will excuse me. 
Miss Temple ; I have much reason to wish that 
bird, and may seem ungallant, but I must claim my 
privileges.” 

“ Claim any thing that is justly your own, sir,” 
returned the lady ; “ w^e are both adventurers, 
and this is my knight. I trust my fortune to his 
hand and eye. Lead on, Sir Leather-stocking, and 
we will follow'.” 

Natty, who seemed pleased wdth the frank ad- 
dress of the young and beauteous maiden, who 


244 


THE PIONEERS. 


had SO singularly intrusted him with such a com- 
loission, returned the bright smile with which she 
had addressed him, by his own peculiar mark of 
mirth, and moved across the snow', towards the 
spot whence the sounds of boisterous mirth pro- 
ceeded, wdth the long strides of a hunter. His 
companions followed in silence, the youth casting 
frequent and uneas^*^ glances towards Elizabeth, 
who was detained by a motion from Richard. 

‘‘ I should think. Miss Temple,” he said, so soon 
as the others w'ere out of hearing, “ that if you 
really wished a turkey, you w'ould not have taken 
a stranger for the office, and such a one as Lea- 
ther-stocking. But 1 can hardly believe that you 
are serious, for I have fifty at this moment shut up 
in the coops, in every stage of fat, so that you 
might choose any quality you pleased. There 
are six that I am trying an experiment on, by giv- 
ing them brick-bats with ” 

‘‘ Enough, cousin Dickon,” interrupted the la- 
dy ; “I do wish the bird, and it is because I so 
wish, that I commissioned this Mr. Leather-stock- 
ing.” 

“ Did you ever hear of the great shot that I 
made at the wolf, cousin Elizabeth, who was car- 
rying off your father’s sheep ?” said Richard, draw- 
ing himself up into an air of displeasure. ‘‘ He 
had the sheep on his back ; and had the head of 
the wolf been on the other side, I should have kill- 
ed him dead ; as it was” 

“ You killed the sheep,” again interrupted the 
young lady — ‘‘ I know it all, my dear coz. But 
would it have been decorous, for the High Sheriff 
of to mingle in such sports as these ?” 

“ Surely you did not think I intended actually 
to fire w ith my own hands .?” said Mr. Jones. — 
“ But let us follow, and see the shooting. There 


THE PIONEERS. 


245 


is no fear of any thing unpleasant occurring to any 
female in this new country, especially to your 
father’s daughter, and in my presence.” 

“ My father’s daughter fears nothing, sir,” re- 
turned Elizabeth ; “ more especially when escorted 
by the highest executive officer in the county.” 

She took his arm, and he led her through the 
mazes of the bushes, to the spot where most of the 
young men of the village were collected for the 
sports of shooting a Christmas match, and whither 
Natty and his companions had already preceded 
them. 

21 * 


CHAPTER XVII. 


“ I guess, by all this quaint array, 

The burghers hold their sports to-day.” 

Scott. 


The ancient amusement of shooting the Christ- 
mas turkey, is one of the few sports that the set- 
tlers of a new country seldom or never neglect to 
observe. It was connected with the daily practices 
of a people, who often laid aside the axe or the 
sithe to seize the rifle, as the deer glided through 
the forests they were felling, or the bear entered 
their rough meadows to scent the air of a clearing, 
and to scan, with a look of sagacity, the progress 
of the invader. 

On the present occasion, the usual amusement 
of the day had been a little hastened, in order to 
allow a fair opportunity to Mr. Grant, whose exhi- 
bition was not less a treat to the young sportsmen, 
than the one which engaged their present atten- 
tion. The owner of the birds was a free black, 
who had been preparing for the occasion a collec- 
tion of game, that was admirably qualified to in- 
flame the appetite of an epicure, and was well 
adapted to the means and skill of the different com- 
petitors, who were of all ages. He had offered to 
the younger and more humble marksmen divers 
birds of an inferior quality, and some shooting had 


THE PIONEERS. 


247 


already taken place, much to the pecuniary advan- 
tage of the sable owner of the game. The order 
of the sports was extremely simple, and well un- 
derstood. The bii’d was fastened by a string of 
tow, to the base of the stump of a large pine, the 
side of which, towards the point where the marks- 
men were placed, had been flattened with an axe, 
in order that it might serve the purpose of a target, 
by which the merit of each individual might be as- 
certained. The distance between the stump and 
this point was one hundred measured yards : a foot 
more or a foot less being thought an invasion of the 
1 ight of one of the parties. The negro affixed his 
own price to every bird, and the terms of the chance : 
but when these were once established, he was 
obliged, by the strict principles of public justice 
that prevailed in the country, to admit any adven- 
turer who might offer. 

The throng consisted of some twenty or thirty 
young men, most of whom had rifles, and a collec- 
tion of all the boys in the village. The little ur- 
chins, clad in coarse but warm garments, stood 
gathered around the more distinguished marksmen, 
with their hands stuck under their waistbands, lis- 
tening eagerly to the boastful stories of the skill 
that had been exhibited on former occasions, and 
vyere already emulating in their hearts these won- 
derful deeds in gunnery. 

The chief speaker was the man who had been 
mentioned by Natty, as Billy Kirby. This fellow, 
whose occupation, when he did labour, was that of 
clearing lands, or chopping jobs, was of great sta- 
ture, and carried, in his very air, the index of his 
character. He was a noisy, boisterous, reckless 
lad, whose good-natured eye contradicted the blunt- 
ness and bullying tenor of his speech. For weeks 
he would lounge around the taverns of the county, 


248 


THE PIONEERS. 


in a state of perfect idleness, or doing small jobs 
fdr his liquor and his meals, and cavilling with ap- 
plicants about the prices of his labour : frequently 
preferring idleness to an abatement of a tittle of 
his independence, or a cent in his wages. But 
when these embarrassing points were once satisfac- 
torily arranged, he would shoulder his axe and his 
rifle, slip his arms through the straps of his pack, 
and enter the woods with the tread of a Hercules. 
His first object was to learn his limits, round which 
he would pace, occasionally freshening, w ith a blow 
of his axe, the marks on the boundary trees; and 
then he would proceed, with an air of great de- 
liberation, to the centre of his premises, and, 
throwing aside his superfluous garments, he w^ould 
measure, with a knowing eye, one or two of the 
nearest trees, that were towering apparently into the 
very clouds, as he gazed upw^ards. Commonly se- 
lecting one of the most noble, for the first trial of 
his power, he would approach it with a listless 
air, whistling a low tune ; and wielding his axe, 
with a certain flourish, not unlike the salutes of a 
fencing master, he would strike a light blow^ into 
the bark, and measure his distance. The pause 
that followed w^as ominous of the fall of the forest, 
that had flourished there for centuries. The heavy 
and brisk blows that he struck were soon succeeded 
by the thundering report of the tree, as it came, 
first cracking and threatening, with the separation 
of its own last ligaments, then thrashing and tear- 
ing with its branches the tops of its suiTounding 
brethren, and finally meeting the ground wuth a 
shock but little inferior to an earthquake. From 
that moment the sounds of the axe would be cease- 
less, wdiile the falling of the trees w^as like a dis- 
tant cannonading ; and the daylight broke into the 


THE PIONEERS. 


249 


depths of the woods with almost the suddenness 
of a winter morning. 

For days, weeks, nay, months, Billy Kirby would 
toil, with an ardour that evinced his native spirit, 
and with an. effect that seemed magical, until, his 
chopping being ended, his stentorian lungs could 
be heard emitting sounds, as he called to his patient 
oxen, the assistants in his labour, which rung 
through the hills like the cries of an alarm. He 
had been often heard, on a mild summer’s evening, 
a long mile across the vale of Templeton ; when 
the echoes from the mountains would take up his 
cries, until they died away in the feeble sounds 
from the distant rocks that overhung the lake. 
His piles, or, to use the language of the country, 
his logging, ended, with a despatch that could only 
accompany his dexterity and Herculean strength, 
the jobber would collect together his implements 
of labour, light the heaps of timber, and march 
away, under the blaze of the prostrate forest, like 
the conqueror of some city, who, having first pre- 
vailed over his adversary, places the final torch of 
destruction, as the finishing blow to his conquest. 
For a long time Billy Kirby would then be seen, 
sauntering around the taverns, the rider of scrub- 
races, the bully of cock-fights, and not unfrequently 
the hero of such sports as the one in hand. 

Between him and the Leather-stocking there 
had long existed a jealous rivalry, on the point of 
their respective skill in shooting. Notwithstand- 
ing the long practice of Natty, it was commojily 
supposed that the steady nerves and quick eye ol 
the wood-chopper rendered him his equal. Their 
competition had, however, been confined hitherto 
to boastings, and comparisons made from their suc- 
cesses in their various hunting excursions ; but this 
was the first time that they had ever come in open 


250 


THE PIONEERS. 


collision, A good deal of higgling about the price 
of the choicest bird, had taken place between Billy 
Kirby and its owner, before Natty and his compa- 
nions rejoined the sportsmen. It had, however, 
been settled at one shilling a shot, which was the 
highest sum ever exacted,, the black taking care to 
protect himself from losses, as much as possible, 
by the conditions of the sport. The turkey was 
already fastened at the “ mark,” but its body was 
entirely hid by the surrounding snow, nothing being 
visible but its red swelling head, and long proud 
neck. If the bird was injured by any bullet fhit 
struck below the snow, it was still to continue the 
property of its present owner, but if a feather was 
touched in a visible part, the animal became Ihe 
prize of the successful adventurer. 

These terms were loudly proclaimed from tlie 
mouth of the negro, who w^as seated in tlie snow, 
in a somewhat hazardous vicinity to his favouiiic 
bird, as Elizabeth and her cousin, the newly ap- 
pointed executive chief of the county, approached 
the noisy sportsmen. The sounds of mirth and 
contention sensibly lowered at this unexpected 
visit; but, after a moment’s pause, the curious 
interest exhibited in the face of the young lady, 
together with her smiling air, restored the freedom 
ol the morning ; though it was somewhat chastened, 
both in language and vehemence, by the presence 
of such a spectator to their proceedings. 

‘‘ Stand out of the way there, boys !” cried the 
wood-chopper, who was placing himself at the 
shooting point — “ stand out of the way, you little 
rascals, or I will shoot through you. Nowg Brom, 
you may say good-by to that turkey.” 

“ Stop !” cried the young hunter; “ I am a can- 
didate for a chance too. Here is my shilling, Brom ; 
I wish a shot too.” 


THE PIONEERS. 


251 


‘‘ You may wish it in welcome,” cried Kirby, 

but if I ruffle the gobbler’s feathers, how are you 
to get it ? Is money so plenty in your deer-skin 
pocket, that you pay for a chance that you may 
never have ?” 

“ How know you, sir, how plenty money is in 
my pocket said the youth, fiercely. “ Here is 
my shilling, Brom, and I claim a right to shoot.” 

“ Don’t be crabbed, my boy,” said the other, 
who was very coolly fixing his flint. “ They say 
you have a hole in your left shoulder, yourself : so 
I think Brom may give you a fire for half price. 
It will take a keen one to hit that bird, I can tell 
you, my lad, even if I give you a chance, which is 
a thing 1 have no mind to do.” 

‘‘ Don’t be boasting, Billy Kirby,” said Natty, 
throwing the breech of his rifle into the snow, and 
leaning on its barrel ; “ you’ll get but one shot at 
the creater, for if the lad misses his aim, which 
wouldn’t be a w^onder if he did, with his arm so 
stiff and sore, you’ll find a good piece and an old 
eye coming a’ter you. Maybe it’s true that I can’t 
shoot as I used to could, but a hundred yards is but 
a short distance for a long rifle.” 

“ What, old Leather-stocking, are you out this 
morning,” cried his reckless opponent. ‘‘ Well, 
fair play’s a jewel. But I’ve the lead of you, old 
fellow^ ; so here goes, for a dry throat or a good 
dinner.” 

The countenance of the negro evinced not only 
all the interest which his pecuniary adventure 
might occasion, but also the keen excitement that 
t}}e sport produced in the others, though with a 
very different wish as to the result. While the 
wood-chopper was slowly and steadily raising his 
rifle, he exclaimed — 

“ Fair play, Billy Kirby — stand back — make ’em 


252 


THE PIONEERS. 


stand back, boys — gib a nigger fair play — poss-up, 
gobbler ; shake ahead, fool ; don’t a see ’em pokin 
gun at ’em ?” 

These cries, which were intended as much to 
distract the attention of the marksman, as for any 
thing else, were, however, fruitless. The nerves 
of the wood-chopper were not so easily shaken, 
and he took his aim with the utmost deliberation. 
The dead stillness of expectation prevailed for a 
moment, and he fired. The head of the turkey 
was seen to dash on one side, and its wings were 
spread in momentary fluttering ; but it settled it- 
self down, calmly, into its bed of snow, and glanced 
its eyes uneasily around. For a time long enough 
to draw a deep breath, not a sound was heard. 
The silence was then broken, by the noise of the 
negro, who laughed, and shook his body, with all 
kinds of antics, rolling over in the snow with the 
excess of his delight. 

“ Well done a gobbler,” he cried, jumping up, 
and affecting to embrace his bird; “ I tell ’em to 
poss-up, and you see ’em dodge. Gib anoder shil- 
lin, Billy, and hab anoder shot.” 

No — the shot is mine,” said the young hunter ; 
“ you have my money already. Leave the mark, 
and let me try my luck.” 

“ Ah ! it’s but money thrown away, lad,” said 
Leather-stocking. “ A turkey’s head and neck is 
but a small mark for a new hand and a lame shoul- 
der. You’d best let me take the fire, and maybe 
we can make some sittlement with the lady about 
the bird.” 

“ The chance is mine,” said the young hunter. 

Clear the ground, that I may take it.” 

The discussions and disputes concerning the last 
shot were now abating, it having been determined, 
that if the turkey’s head had been any where but 


THE PIONEERS. 


253 


just where it was at the moment, the bird must 
certainly have been killed. There was not much 
excitement produced by the preparations of the 
3"outh, who proceeded in a hurried manner to take 
his aim, and was in the act of pulling the trigger, 
when he was stopped by Natty. 

“ Your hand shakes, lad,” he said, “ and you 
s.eem over eager. Bullet wownds are apt to weak- 
en the flesh, and, to my judgment, you’ll not shoot 
so well as in common. If you will fire, you should 
shoot quick, before there is time to shake off the 
aim.” 

‘‘ Fair play,” again shouted the negro ; ‘‘ fair 
play^ — gib a nigger fair play. What right a Nat- 
Bumppo tell a young man ? Let ’em shoot — clear 
a ground.” 

I’he youth fired with great rapidity ; but no mo- 
tion was made by the turkey ; and when the exa- 
miners for the ball returned from the “ mark,” they 
declared that he had missed the stump. 

Flizabeth observed the change in his counte- 
nance, and could not help feeling surprise, that one 
so evidently superior to his companions, should 
feel a trifling loss so sensibly. But her own cham- 
pion was now preparing to enter the lists. 

The mirth of Brom, which had been again ex- 
cited, though in a much smaller degree than be- 
fore, by the failure of the second adventurer, va 
nished, the instant that Natty took his stand. His 
skin became mottled with large brown spots, that 
sullied the lustre of his native ebony most fearfully, 
while his enormous lips gradually compressed 
around the two rows of ivory, that had hitherto 
been shining in his visage, like pearls set in jet. 
His nostrils, at all times the most conspicuous fea- 
tures of his face, dilated, until they covered the 


254 


THE PIONEERS. 


j^reater part of the diameter of his countenance ; 
while his brown and bony hands unconsciously 
grasped the snow-crust near him, the excitement 
of the moment completely overcoming his native 
dread of cold. 

While these indications of apprehension were 
exhibited in the sable owner of the turkey, the 
man who gave rise to this extraordinary emotion 
was as calm and collected, as if there was not to 
be a single spectator of his skill. 

“ I was down in the Dutch settlements on the 
Scoharie,” said Natty, carefully removing the 
leather guard from the lock of his rifle, “jist be- 
fore the breaking out of the last war, and there 
was a shooting-match among the boys ; so I took 
a hand in it myself. I think I opened a good many 
Dutch eyes that very day, for I won the powder- 
horn, three bars of lead, and a pound of as good 
powder as ever flashed in the pan of a gun. Lord ! 
how they did swear in Carman ! They did, tell 
of one drunken Dutchman, who said he’d have 
the life of me, before I got back to the lake ag’in. 
But if he had put his rifle to his shoulder wdth 
evil intent, God would have punished him for it ; 
and even if the Lord didn’t, and he had missed his 
aim, I know one that would have given him as 
good as he sent, and better too, if good shooting 
could come into the ’count.” 

By this time the old hunter was ready for his 
business, and throwing his right leg far behind him, 
and stretching his left arm along the barrel of his 
piece, he raised it towards the bird. Every eye 
glanced rapidly from the marksman to the mark ; 
but at the moment when each ear was expecting 
the report of the rifle, they were disappointed by 
the ticking sound of the flint only. 


THE PIONEERS. 


255 


“ A snap — snap,” shouted the negro, springing 
from his crouching posture, like a madman, before 
his bird. ‘‘ A snap as good as a fire — Natty Bump- 
po gun he snap — Natty Bumppo miss a turkey.” 

“ Natty Bumppo hit a nigger,” said the indig- 
nant old hunter, “ if you don’t get out of the way, 
brom. It’s contrary to the reason of the thing, 
boy, that a snap should count for a fire, when one 
is nothing more than a fire-stone striking a steel 
pan, and the other is good lead, ay ! and with a 
good aim ; so get out of my way, boy, and let me 
show Billy Kirby how to shoot a Christmas tur- 
key.” 

“ Gib a nigger fair play !” cried the black, who 
continued resolutely to maintain his post. “ Eb- 
bery body know dat snap as good as fire. Leab it 
to Massa Jone — leab it to lady.” 

‘‘ Sartain,” said the wood-chopper ; ‘‘ it’s the 
law of the game in this part of the country. Lea- 
ther-stocking. If you fire ag’in, you must pay up 
the other shilling. I b’lieve I’ll try luck once more 
myself; so, Brom, here’s my money, and I take 
the next fire.” 

“ It’s likely you know the laws of the woods 
better than I do, Billy Kirby !” returned Natty. 
“ You come in with the settlers, with an ox goad 
in your hand, and I come in with moccasins on my 
feet, and with a good rifle on my shoulder, so long 
back as afore the old war. Which is likely to know 
the best ^ I say, no man need tell me that snap- 
ping is as good as firing, when I pull the trigger.” 

“ Leab it to Massa Jone,” said the alarmed ne- 
gro ; “ he know ebbery ting.” 

This appeal to the knowledge of Richard was 
too flattering to be unheeded. He therefore ad- 
vanced a little from the spot whither the delicacy 
of Elizabeth had induced her to withdraw, and 


2o6 


THE PIONEERS. 


gave the following opinion, with all the gravity 
that the subject and his own rank demanded : — 

“ There seems to be a difference in opinion,” 
he said, “ on the subject of Nathaniel Bumppo’s 
right to shoot at Abraham Freeborn’s turkey, with- 
out the said Nathaniel paying one shilling for the 
privilege.” This fact was too self-evident to be 
denied, and, after pausing a moment, that the audi- 
ence might digest his premises, Richard proceed- 
ed : — “ It seems proper tha,t I should decide this 
question, as I am bound to preserve the peace of 
the county ; and men with deadly weapons in their 
hands should not be heedlessly left to contention, and 
their own malignant passions. It appears that there 
was no agreement, either in writing or in words, 
on the disputed point ; therefore we must reason 
from analogy, which is, as it were, comparing one 
thing with another. Now^, in duels, where both 
parties shoot, it is generally the rule that a snap is 
a fire ; and if such is the rule, where the party has 
a right to fire back again, it seems to me unreason- 
able to say, that a man may stand snapping at that 
turkey all day. I therefore am of opinion, that 
Nathaniel Bumppo has lost his chance, and must 
pay another shilling before he renews his right.” 

As this opinion came from such a high quarter, 
and was delivered with so much effect, it silenced 
all murmurs, — for the whole of the spectators had 
begun to take sides with great warmth, — except 
from the Leather-stocking himself. 

“ I think Miss Elizabeth’s thoughts should be 
taken,” said Natty. “ I’ve known the squaws give 
very good counsel, when the Indians have been 
dumb foundered in their notions. If she says that 
I ought to lose, I agree to give it up.” 

‘‘ Then I adjudge you to be a loser, for this time,” 
said Miss Temple ; ‘‘ but pay your money, and re- 


THE PIOJTEERS. 


257 


new your chance ; unless Brom will sell me the 
bird for a dollar. I will give him the money, and 
save the life of the poor victim.” 

This proposition was evidently but little relish- 
ed by any of the listeners, even the negro feeling 
unwilling to lose the sport, though he lost his tur- 
key. In the mean while, as Billy Kirby was prepar- 
ing himself for another shot, ISTatty left the goal, 
with an extremely dissatisfied manner, muttering 
to himself, and speaking aloud — 

“ There hasn’t been such a thing as a good flint 
sold at the foot of the lake, since the time when 
the Indian traders used to come into the country ; 
— and if a body should go into the flats along the 
streams in the hills, to hunt for such a thing, it’s 
ten to one but they will be all covered up with 
the plough. Heigho ! it seems to me, that just 
as the game grows scarce, and a body wants the 
best of ammunition, to get a livelihood, every 
thing that’s bad falls on him, like a judgment. But 
I’ll change the stone, for Billy Kirby hasn’t the 
eye for such a mark, I know.” 

The wood chopper seemed now entirely sensi- 
ble that his reputation in a great measure depend- 
ed on his care ; nor did he neglect any means to 
ensure his success. He drew up his rifle, and re- 
newed his aim, again and again, still appearing re- 
luctant to fire. No sound was heard from even 
Brom, during these portentous movements, until 
Kirby discharged his piece, with the same want of 
success as before. Then, indeed, the shouts of the 
negro rung through the bushes, and sounded among 
the trees of the neighbouring forest, like the out- 
cries of a tribe of Indians. He laughed, rolljng his 
head, first on one side, then on the other, until na- 
ture seemed exhausted with mirth. He danced, 
until his legs were wearied with motion, in the 
22 * 


258 


THE PIONEERS. 


snow ; and, in short, he exliibited all that violence 
of joy that characterizes the mirth of a thoughtless 
negro. 

The wood-chopper had exerted his art, and felt 
a proportionate degree of disappointment at his 
failure. He first examined the bird with the ut- 
most attention, and more than once suggested that 
he had touched its feathers ; but the voice of the 
multitude was against him, for it felt disposed to 
listen to the often-repeated cries of the black, to 
“ gib a nigger fair play.” 

Finding it impossible to make out a title to the 
bird, Kirby turned fiercely to the black, and said — 

“ Shut your oven, you crow ! Where is the man 
that can hit a turkey’s head at a hundred yards ? 
I was a fool for trying. You needn’t make an up- 
roar, like a falling pine-tree, about it. Show me 
the man who can do it.” 

“Look this a-way, Billy Kirby,” said Leather- 
stocking, “ and let them clear the mark, and I’ll 
show you a man who’s made better shots afore 
now, and that when he’s been hard pressed by the 
savages and wild beasts.” 

“ Perhaps there is one whose rights come before 
ours, Leather-stocking,” said Miss Temple ; “ if 
so, we will waive our privilege.” 

“ If it be me that you have reference to, madam,” 
said the young hunter, “ I shall decline another 
chance. My shoulder is yet weak, I find.” 

Elizabeth regarded his proud, but forced man- 
ner, and even thought that she could discern a 
tinge on his cheek, that spoke the shame of con- 
scious poverty. She said no more, but suffered 
her own champion to make a trial. 

Although Natty Bumppo had certainly made 
hundreds of more momentous shots, at his enemies 
or his game, yet he never exerted himself more to 


THE PIONEERS. 


259 . 


excel. He Kiised his piece three several times ; 
once to get his range ; once to calculate his dis- 
tance ; and once because the bird, alarmed by the 
deathlike stillness that prevailed, turned its head 
cpiickly, to examine its Ibes. But the fourth time 
he fired. The smoke, the report, and the momen- 
tary shock, prevented most of the spectators from 
instantly knowing the result ; but Elizabeth, when 
she saw' her champion drop the end of his rifle in 
the snow', and open his mouth in one of its silent 
laughs, and then proceed very coolly to recharge 
his piece, knew that he had been successful. The 
boys rushed to the mark, and lifted the turkey on 
high, lifeless, and 'with nothing but the remnant of 
a head. 

“ Bring in the creater,” said Leather-stocking, 
“ and put it at the feet of the lady. I was her de- 
puty in the matter, and the bird is her property.” 

And a good deputy you have proved your- 
self,” returned Elizabeth — “ so good, cousin Ri- 
chard, that I would advise you to remember his 
qualities.” She paused, and the gayety that beam- 
ed on her face gave place to a more serious ear- 
nestness. She even blushed a little as she turned 
to the young hunter, and, with the insinuating 
charm of a woman’s best manner, added — “ But it 
was only to see an exhibition of the far-famed skill 
of Leather-stocking, that I tried my fortunes. Will 
you, sir, accept the bird, as a small peace-offering, 
for the hurt that prevented your own success 

The expression wdth which the youth received 
this present was indescribable. He appeared to 
yield to the exquisite blandishment of her air, in 
opposition to a strong inward impulse to the con- 
trary. He bowed, and raised the victim silently 
from her feet, but continued silent. 

Elizabeth handed the black a piece of silver as 


260 


THE PIONEERS. 


a remuneration for his loss, which had some effect 
in again unbending his muscles, and then express- 
ed to her companion her readiness to return home- 
ward . 

“Wait a minute, cousin Bess,” cried Richard ; 
“ there is an uncertainty about the rules of this 
sport, that it is proper I should remove. If you 
will appoint a committee, gentlemen, to wait on 
me this morning, I will draw up in writing a set 
of regulations ” He stopped, with some indig- 

nation, to see who it was that so familiarly laid his 
hand on the shoulder of the High Sheriff of . 

“ A merry Christmas to you, cousin Dickon,” 
said Judge Temple, who had approached the party 
unperceived : “I must have a vigilant eye to my 
daughter, sir, if you are to be seized daily with 
these gallant tits. I admire the taste, which would 
introduce a lady to such scenes !” 

“ It is her own perversity, Muke,” cried the dis- 
appointed sheriff, who felt the loss of the first sa- 
lutation as grievously as many a man would a much 
greater misfortune ; “ and I must say that she comes 
honestly by it. I led her out to show her the im- 
provements, but away she scampered, through the 
snow, at the first sound of the fire-arms, the same 
as if she had been brought up in a camp, instead of 
a first-rate boarding-school. I do think. Judge 
Temple, that such dangerous amusements should 
be suppressed by law ; nay, I doubt whether they 
are not already indictable at common law.” 

“ Well, sir, as you are Sheriff of the county, it 
becomes your duty to examine into the matter,” 
returned the smiling Marmaduke. “ i perceive 
that Bess has executed her commission, and I hope 
it met with a favourable reception.” 

Richard glanced his eye at the packet, which he 


THE PIONEERS. 


261 


held in his hand, and the slight anger produced by 
his disappointment vanished instantly. 

‘‘ Ah ! ’duke, my dear cousin,” he said, ‘‘ step a 
little on one side ; I have something I would say 
to you.” Marmaduke complied, and the Sheriff 
led him to a little distance in the bushes, and con- 
tinued — “ First, ’duke, let me thank you for your 
friendly interest with the Council and the Govern- 
or, without which, 1 am confident, that the greatest 
merit would avail but little. But we are sisters’ 
children — we are sisters’ children ; and you may 
use me like one of your horses ; ride me or drive 
me, ’duke, I am wholly yours. But in my humble 
opinion, this young companion of Leather-stocking 
requires looking after. He has a very dangerous 
propensity for turkey.” 

Leave him to my management, Dickon,” said 
the Judge, gravely, “ and I will cure his appetite 
by indulgence. It is with him that I would speak. 
Let us rejoin the sportsmen.” 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


“ Poor wrotch ! tho inotner that him bar^, 

If she had been in presence there, 

In his wan face, and sun-burnt hair, 

She had not known her child.” 

Scott. 

It diminished, in no degree, the effect produced 
by the conversation which passed between Judge 
Temple and the young hunter, that the former took 
the arm of his daughter, and drew it through his 
own, when he advanced from the spot whither Ri- 
chard had led him to where the youth stand- 
ing, in a musing attitude, leaning on his rifle, and 
apparently contemplating the dead bird that lay at 
his feet. The presence of Marmaduke did not in- 
terrupt the sports, which were resumed, by loud 
and clamorous disputes concerning the conditions 
of a chance, that involved the life of a bird of much 
inferior quality to the last. Leather-stocking and 
Mohegan had alone drawn aside to the place where 
stood their youthful companion ; and, although in 
the immediate vicinity of such a throng, the fol- 
lowing conversation was heard only by those who 
were interested in it. 

“ I have greatly injured you, Mr. Edwards,” said 
the Judge ; but the sudden and inexplicable start, 
with which the person spoken to received this un- 
expected address, caused him to pause a moment 


THE PIONEERS. 


263 


in manifest surprise, also. As no answer was given, 
and the strong emotion exhibited in the counte- 
nance of the youth gradually passed away, he con- 
trhued — “ But, fortunately, it is in some measure 
in my power to compensate you for what I have 
done. My kinsman, Richard Jones, has received 
an appointment that will, in future, deprive me of 
his assistance, and leaves me, just now, destitute of 
one who might greatly aid me with his pen. Your 
manner, notwithstanding appearances, is a suffi- 
cient proof of your education, nor will thy shoul- 
der suffer thee to labour, for some time to come. 
My doors are open to thee, my young friend, for 
in this infant country we harbour no suspicions : 
little offering to tempt the cupidity of the evil dis- 
posed. Become my assistant, for at least a season, 
and receive such compensation as thy services will 
deserve.” 

There was nothing in the manner or the offer 
of the Judge to justify the reluctance, amounting 
nearly to loathing, with which the youth listened 
to his speech : but after a powerful effort, as if for 
self-command, he replied — 

“ I would serve you, sir, or any other man, for 
an honest support, for I do not affect to conceal 
that my necessities are very great, even beyond 
what appearances ^vould indicate ; but I am fearful 
that such new duties would interfere too much with 
more important business : so that I must decline 
your offer, and depend on my rifle, as before, for 
my subsistence.” 

Richard here took occasion to whisper to the 
young lady, who had shrunk a little from the fore- 
ground of the picture — 

“ This, you see, cousin Bess, is the natural re- 
luctance of a half-breed to leave the savage state. 


264 


THE PIONEERS. 


Their attachment to a wandering life is, I verily 
believe, unconquerable.” 

‘‘ It i^ a precarious life,” observed Marmaduke, 
without hearing the Sheriff’s observation, “ and 
one that brings more evils with it than present suf- 
fering. Trust me, my young friend, my experi- 
ence is greater than thine, when I tell thee, that 
the unsettled life of these hunters is of vast disad- 
vantage for temporal purposes, and it totally re- 
moves one from within the influence of more sacred 
things.” 

“ No, no. Judge,” interrupted the Leather-stock- 
ing, who was hitherto unseen, or disregarded ; 
“ take him into your shanty in welcome, but tell 
him the raal thing. I have lived in the woods for 
forty long years, and have spent five years at a 
time without seeing the light of a clearing bigger 
than a wind-row in the trees ; and I should like to 
know where you’ll find a man, in his sixty-eighth 
year, who can get an easier living, for all your bet- 
terments, and your deer-laws : and, as for honesty, 
or doing what’s right between man and man. I’ll 
not turn my back to the longest winded deacon on 
your patent.” 

“ Thou art an exception, Leather-stocking,” re- 
turned the Judge, nodding good-naturedly at the 
hunter ; “ for thou hast a temperance unusual in 
thy class, and a hardihood exceeding thy years. 
But this youth is made of materials too precious to 
be wasted in the forest. I entreat thee to join my 
family, if it be but till thy arm be healed. My 
daughter here, who is mistress of my dwelling, will 
tell thee that thou art welcome.” 

“ Certainly,” said Elizabeth, whose earnestness 
was strongly checked by the assumption of a wo- 
man’s dignity. “ The unfortunate would be wel- 


THE PIONEERS. 


265 


come at any time, but doubly so, when we feel that 
we have occasioned the evil ourselves.” 

“ Yes,” said Richard, “ and if you relish turkey, 
young man, there are plenty in the coops, and those 
of the best kind, I can assure you.” 

Finding himself thus ably seconded, Marmaduke 
pushed his advantage to the utmost. He entered 
into a detail of the duties that would attend the 
situation, and circumstantially mentioned the re- 
ward, and all those points which are deemed of 
importance among men of business. The youth 
listened in extreme agitation. There was an evi- 
dent contest in his feelings ; at times he appeared 
to wish eagerly for the change, and then again the 
incomprehensible expression of disgust would cross 
his handsome features, like a dark cloud obscuring 
a noonday sun. 

The Indian, in whose manner the depression of 
self-abasement was most powerfully exhibited, lis- 
tened to the offers of the Judge with an interest 
that increased with each syllable. Gradually he 
drew nigher to the group ; and wdien, with his keen 
glance, he detected the most marked evidence of 
yielding in the countenance of his young compa- 
nion, he changed at once from his attitude and look 
of shame to the fearless and proud front of an In- 
dian warrior, and moving, with great dignity, closer 
to the parties, he spoke in his turn. 

“ Listen to your Father,” he said, “ for his 
words are old. Let the Young Eagle and the 
Great Land Chief eat together; let them sleep, 
without fear, near to each other. The children of 
Miquon love not blood ; they are just, and will do 
right. The sun must rise and set often, before 
men can make one family ; it is not the work of a 
day, but of many winters. The Mingoes and the 
Delawares are born enemies ; their blood can ne^ver 

VOL. I. 23 


266 


THE PIONEERS. 


mix in tlie wigwam : it never will run in the same 
stream in the battle. What makes the brother of 
Miqiion and the Young Eagle foes ? They are of the 
same tribe : their fathers and mothers are one. 
Learn to wait, my son : you have Delaware blood, 
and an Indian warrior know s how to be patient.’’ 

This figurative .address seemed to have great 
w'eight with the young man, w'ho gradually yielded 
to the representations of Marmaduke, and eventu- 
ally consented to his proposal. It was, however, 
to be an experiment only ; and if either of the par- 
ties thought fit to rescind the engagement, it was 
left at his option so to do. The remarkable and 
ill-concealed reluctance of the youth to accept of 
an offer, which most men in his situation w’ouid 
consider as an unhoped-for elevation, occasioned 
no little surprise in those of the spectators to whom 
he was a stranger ; and it left a slight impression to 
his disadvantage. When the parties separated, 
they very naturally made the subject the topic of 
a conversation, wdiich we shall relate ; first com- 
mencing with the Judge, his daughter, and Richard, 
who were slowdy pursuing the way back to the 
Mansion-house. 

“ I have surely endeavoured to remember the 
holy mandates of our Redeemer, when he bids us 
to ‘ love them who despitefully use you,’ in my 
intercourse with this incomprehensible boy,” said 
Marmaduke. “ I know' not what there is in my 
dwelling to frighten a lad of his years, unless it 
may be thy presence and visage, Bess.” 

“ No, no,” said Richard, with great simplicity in 
his manner ; “ it is not cousin Bess. But when 
did you ever know a half-breed, ’duke, who could 
bear civilization ? For that matter, they are worse 
than the savages themselves. Did you notice how 


THE PIONEERS. 


267 


knock-kneed he stood, Elizabeth, and what a wild 
look he had in his eyes 

“ I heeded not his eyes, sir,” returned the maid- 
en, nor his knees, which would be all the better for 
a little humbling. Really, my dear sir, I think you 
did exercise the Christian virtue of patience to the 
utmost. I was disgusted with his airs, long before he 
consented to make one in our family. Truly, we are 
much honoured by the association ! In what apart- 
ment is he to be placed, sir ; and at what table is 
he to receive his nectar and ambrosia ?” 

“ With Benjamin and Remarkable,” interrupted 
Mr. Jones ; “ you surely would not make the youth 
eat with the blacks ! He is part Indian, it is true, 
but the natives hold the negroes in great contempt. 
No, no — he would starve before he would break a 
crust with the negroes.” 

I am but too happy, Dickon, to tempt him to 
eat with ourselves,” said Marmaduke, to think 
of offering even the indignity you propose.” 

“ Then, sir,” said Elizabeth, with an air that 
was slightly affected, as if submitting to her father’s 
orders in opposition to her own will, “ it is your 
pleasure that he be a gentleman.” 

“ Certainly ; he is to fill the station of one ; let 
him receive the treatment that is due to his place, 
until we find him unworthy of it.” 

“ Well, well, ’duke,” cried the Sheriff, you will 
find it no easy matter to make a gentleman of him. 
The old proverb says, ‘ that it takes three genera- 
tions to make a gentleman.’ There was my father, 
whom every body knew ; my grandfather was an 
M. D. ; and his father a D. D. ; and his father came 
from England. I never could come at the truth of 
his origin, but he was either a great merchant, in 
London, or a great country lawyer.” 

“ Here is a true American genealogy for you,” 


268 


THE PIONEERS. 


said Marmaduke, laughing. “ It does very well, 
till you get across the water, where, as every 
thing is obscure, it is certain to deal in the superla- 
tive. You are sure that your English progenitor was 
great, Dickon, whatever his profession might be ?’’ 

‘•To be sure I am,” returned the other; “1 
have heard my old aunt talk of him by the month. 
We are of a good family. Judge Temple, and have 
never filled any but honourable stations in life.” 

“ I marvel that you should be satisfied with so 
scanty a provision of gentility, in the olden time, 
Dickon. Most of the Amei ican genealogists com- 
mence their traditions, like the stories for children, 
with three brothers, taking especial care that one 
of the triumvirate shall be the progenitor of any of 
the same name who may happen to be better fur- 
nished with worldly gear than themselves. But, 
here, all are equal who know how to conduct 
themselves with propriety; and Oliver Edwards 
comes into my family on a footing with both the 
High Sheriff and the Judge.” 

“ Well, ’duke, I call this democracy, not repub- 
licanism ; but I say nothing; only let him keep 
within the law, or I shall show him, that the free- 
dom of even this country is under wholesome re- 
straint.” 

“ Surely, Dickon, you will not execute till I con- 
demn !” said Marmaduke. “ But what says Bess 
to the new inmate ? We must pay a deference to 
the ladies, in this matter, after all.” 

“ Oh ! sir,” returned Elizabeth, “ I believe I am 
much like a certain Judge Temple, in this particu- 
lar ; not easily to be turned from my opinion. But, 
to be serious, although I must think the introduc- 
tion of a demi-savage into the family a somewhat 
startling event, -whomsoever you think proper to 
countenance may be sure of my respect.” 


THE PIONEERS. 


269 


The judge drew her arm more closely in his 
own, and smiled, while Richard led the way 
through the gate of the little court-yard in the rear 
of the dwelling, dealing out his ambiguous warn- 
ings, with his accustomed loquacity. 

On the other hand, the foresters — for the three 
hunters, notwithstanding their great difference in 
character, well deserved this common name — pur- 
sued their course along the skirts of the village in 
silence. It was not until they had reached the 
Jake, and were moving over its frozen surface, to- 
wards the foot of the mountain, where their hut 
stood, that the youth exclaimed — 

‘‘ Who could have foreseen this, a month since ! 
I have consented to serve Marmaduke Temple ! 
to be an inmate in the dwelling of the greatest ene- 
my of my race ! Yet what better could I do ? The 
servitude cannot be long, and when the motive for 
submitting to it ceases to exist, I will shake it off, 
like the dust from my feet.” 

‘‘ Is he a Mingo, that you will call him enemy ?” 
said Mohegan. “ The Delaware warrior sits still, 
and waits the time of the Great Spirit. He is no 
'Woman, to cry out like a child.” 

“ Well, I’m mistrustful, John,” said Leather- 
stocking, in whose air there had been, during the 
whole business, a strong expression of doubt and 
uncertainty. “ They say that there’s new laws in 
the land, and I am sartain that there’s new w'ays 
in the mountains. One hardly knows the lakes and 
streams, they’ve altered the country so much. I 
must say I’m mistrustful of such smooth speakers ; 
for I’ve known the whites talk fair, when they 
wanted the Indian lands most. This I will say, 
though I’m white myself, and was born nigh York, 
and of honest parents too.” 

‘‘I will submit,” said the youth; I will forget 
23 ^ 


270 


THE PIONEERS. 


who 1 am. Cease to remember, old Mohegan, that 
I am the descendant of a Delaware chief, who once 
was master of these noble hills, these beautiful 
vales, and of this water, over which we tread. 
Yes, yes — I will become his bondsman — his slave ! 
Is it not an honourable servitude, old man ?” 

“ Old man !” repeated the Indian, solemnly, and 
pausing in his walk, as usual, w'hen much excited — 
‘‘ yes ; John is old. Son of my brother ! if Mohe- 
gan was 3'oung, when would his rifle be still ? 
where would the deer hide, and he not find him ? 
But John is old ; his hand is the hand of a squaw ; 
his tomahawk is a hatchet ; brooms and baskets 
are his enemies — he strikes no other. — Hunger 
and old age come together. See, Hawk-eye ! w'hen 
3’oung, he would go days and eat nothing ; but 
should he not put the brush on the fire now, the 
blaze would go out. Take the son of Miquon by 
the hand, and he will help you.” 

“ Pm not the man 1 was. I’ll own, Chingach- 
gook,” returned the Leather-stocking ; “ bat I can 
go without a meal now, on occasion. When we 
tracked the Iroquois through the ‘ Beech-woods,’ 
they druv the game afore them, for I hadn’t a mor- 
sel to eat from Monday morning come Wednes- 
day sundown ; and then I shot as fat a buck, on 
the Pennsylvany line, as you ever laid eyes on. 
It would have done your heart raal good to have 
seen the Delaw^ares eat — for I was out scouting 
and scrimmaging with their tribe, at the very time. 
Lord ! the Indians, lad, lay still, and just waited 
till Providence should send them their game ; .but 
I foraged about, and put a deer up, and put him 
down too, ’fore he had made a dozen jumps. I w'as 
too weak, and too ravenous to stop for his flesh ; 
so I took a good drink of his blood, and the Indi4ns 
eat of his meat raw'. John was there, and John 


THE PIONEERS. 


271 


knows. But then starvation would be apt to be 
too much for me now, I will own, though I’m no 
great eater at any time.” 

“ Enough is said, my friends,” cried the youth. 
‘‘ I feel that every where the sacrifice is required 
at my hands, and it shall be made ; but say no 
more, J entreat you ; I cannot bear this subject 
now,” 

His companions were silent, and they soon reach- 
ed the hut, which they entered, after removing 
certain complicated and ingenious fastenings, that 
were put there, apparently to guard a property of 
but very little value. Immense piles of snow lay 
figainst the log walls of this secluded habitation, on 
one side, while fragments of small trees and 
branches of oak and chestnut, that had been torn 
from their parent stems by the winds, were thrown 
into a pile, on the other, A small column of smoke 
rose through a chimney of sticks, cemented with 
clay, along the side of the rock ; and had marked 
the snow above with its dark tinges, in a wavy 
line, from the point of emission to another, where 
the hill receded from the brow of a precipice, and 
held a soil that nourished trees of a gigantic 
growth, that overhung the little bottom beneath. 

The remainder of the day passed off as such 
days are commonly spent in a new country. — The 
settlers thronged to the academy again, to witness 
the second effort of Mr. Grant ; and Mohegan was 
one of his hearers. But, notwithstanding the Di- 
vine fixed his eyes intently on the Indian, when 
he invited his congregation to advance to the table, 
the shame of last night’s abasement was yet too 
keen in the old chief to suffer him to move. 

When the people were dispersing, the clouds, 
that had been gathering all the morning, were 
dense and dirty ; and before half of the curious 


272 


THE PIONEERS. 


congregation had reached their different cabins, 
that were placed in every glen and hollow of the 
mountains, or perched on the summits of the hills 
themselves, the rain was falling in torrents. The 
dark edges of the stumps began to exhibit them- 
selves, as the snow settled rapidly; the fences of 
logs and brush, which before had been only traced 
by the long lines of white mounds, that ran across 
the valley and up the mountains, peeped out, in 
spots, from their light covering ; and the black 
stubs were momentarily becoming more distinct, 
as large masses of snow and ice fell from their 
sides, under the influence of the thaw. 

Sheltered in the warm hall of her father’s com- 
fortable mansion, Elizabeth, accompanied by Loui- 
sa Grant, looked abroad with admiration at the 
ever-varying face of things without. Even the 
village, which had just before been glittering with 
the colour of the frozen element, reluctantly drop- 
ped its mask, and the houses exposed their dark 
roofs and smoked chinineys. The pines shook off 
their covering of snow, and every thing seemed to 
be assuming its proper hue, with a rapidity of 
transition that bordered on the supernatural. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


And yst, poor Edwin wag no vulgar boy.” 

Beattie. 


The close of Christmas day, A. D. 1793, was 
tempestuous, but comparatively warm. When 
darkness had again hid the objects in the village 
fi’om the gaze of Elizabeth, she turned from the 
window, where she had remained while the least 
vestige of light lingered over the tops of the dark 
pines, with a curiosity that was rather excited than 
appeased by the passing glimpses of woodland 
scenery that she had caught during the day. 

With her arm locked in that of Miss Grant, the 
young mistress of the mansion walked slowly up 
and down the hall, musing on the scenes that were 
japidly recurring to her memory, and possibly 
dwelling, at times, in the sanctuary of her thoughts, 
on the strange occurrences that had led to the in- 
troduction to her father’s family, of one, whose 
manners so singularly contradicted the inferences 
to be drawn from his situation. The expiring heat 
of the apartment, — for its great size required a day 
to reduce its temperature, — had given to her cheeks 
a richness of bloom that exceeded their natural 
colour, while the mild and melancholy features of 


274 


THE PIONEERS. 


Louisa were brightened with a faint tinge, that, 
like the hectic glow of disease, gave a painful in- 
terest to her beauty. 

The eyes of the gentlemen, who were yet seat- 
ed around the rich wines of Judge Temple, fre- 
quently wandered from the table, that was placed 
at one end of the hall, to the lovely forms that were 
silently moving over its length. Much mirth, and 
that, at times, of a boisterous kind, proceeded from 
the mouth of Richard ; but Major Hartmann was 
not yet excited to his pitch of merriment, and Mar- 
maduke respected the presence of his clerical 
guest too much, to indulge in even the innocent 
humour, that formed no small ingredient in his 
character. 

Such were, and such continued to be, the pur- 
suits of the party, for half an hour after the shut- 
ters were closed, and candles were placed in va- 
rious parts of the hall, as substitutes for the de- 
parting daylight. The appearance of Benjamin, 
staggering under the burthen of an armful of wood, 
was the first interruption to the scene. 

“ How now. Master Pump !” roared the newly 
appointed Sheriff ; “ is there not warmth enough 
in ’duke’s best Madeira, to keep up the animal 
heat through this thaw ^ Remember, old boy, 
that the Judge is particular with his beech and 
maple, beginning to dread, already, a scarcity of 
the precious articles. Ha! ha! ha! ’duke, you 
are a good, warm-hearted relation, I will own, as 
in duty bound, but you have some queer notions 
about you, after all. ‘ Come, let us be jolly, and 
cast aw’^ay folly’ ” 

The notes gradually sunk into a hum, while the 
Major-domo threw down his load, and turning to 
his interrogator with an air of great earnestness, 
he replied — 


THE PIONEERS. 


275 


‘‘ Why, look you, Squire Dickens, mayhap 
there’s a warm latitude round about the table there, 
thof it’s not the stuff to raise the heat in my body, 
neither ; the raal Jamaiky being the only thing to 
do that, beside good wood, or some such matter as 
Newcastle coal. But, if I know any thing of wea- 
ther, d’ye see, it’s time to be getting all snug, and 
for putting the ports in, and stirring the fires a bit. 
Mayhap I’ve not followed the seas twenty-seven 
years, and lived another seven in these here woods, 
for nothing, gemmen.” 

‘‘ Why, does it bid fair for a change in the wea- 
ther, Benjamin ?” inquired the master of the house. 

‘‘ There’s a shift of wind, your honour,” re- 
turned the steward ; “ and when there’s a shift of 
wind, you may look for a change in this here cli- 
mate. I was aboard of one of Rodney’s fleet, d’ye 
see, about the time we licked De Grasse, Moun- 
sheer Ler Quaw’s countryman, there; and the 
wind was here at the south’ard and east’ard ; and I 
was below, mixing a toothful of hot-stuff for the 
Captain of marines, who dined, d’ye see, in the 
cabin, that there very same day ; and I suppose he 
wanted to put out the Captain’s fire with a gun- 
l oom ingyne : and so, just as I got it to my own 
liking, after tasting pr&tty often, for the soldier was 
difficult to please, slap came the fore-sail ag’in 
the mast, whiz went the ship round on her heel, 
like a whirligig. And a lucky thing was it that our 
helm was down ; for as she gathered starnway she 
payed off, which was more than every ship in the 
fleet did, or could do. But she strained herself m 
the trough of the sea, and she shipped a deal of 
water over her quarter. I never swallowed so 
much clear water at a time, in my life, as I did 
then, for I was looking up the after-hatch at the 
instant.” 


276 


THE PIONEERS. 


‘‘ I wonder, Benjamin, that you did not die with 
a dropsy !” said Marmaduke. 

“ I modght, Judge,” said the old tar, with a broad 
grin ; “but there was no need of the med’cine 
chest for a cure ; for, as I thought the brew was 
spoilt for the marine’s taste, and there was no tell- 
ing when another sea might come and spoil it for 
mine, I finished the mug on the spot. So then all 
hands was called to the pumps, and there we be- 
gun to ply the pumps” 

“ Well, but the weather ?” interrupted Marma- 
duke ; “ what of the weather without doors ?” 

“ Why, here the wind has been all day at the 
south, and now there’s a lull, as if the last blast 
was out of bellows ; and there’s a streak along the 
mountain, to the north’ard, that, just now, wa*i'nt 
wider than the bigness of your hand ; and then the 
clouds drive afore it as you’d brail a mainsail, and 
the stars are heaving in sight, like so many lights 
and beacons, put there to warn us to pile on the 
wood ; and, if-so-be that I’m a judge of weather, 
it’s getting to be time to build on a fire ; or you’ll 
have half of them there porter bottles, and them 
dimmy-johns of wine, in the locker here, breaking 
with the frost, afore the moraing watch is called.” 

“ Thou art a prudent sentinel,” said the Judge. 
“ Act thy pleasure with the forests, for this niffht 
at least.” 

Benjamin did as he was ordered ; nor had two 
hours elapsed, before the prudence of his precau- 
tions became very visible. The south wind had, 
indeed, blown itself out, and it was succeeded by 
the calmness that usually gave warning of a serious 
change in the weather. Long before the family 
retired to rest, the cold had become cuttingly se- 
vere ; and when Monsieur Le Quoi sallied forth, 
under a bright moon, to seek his own abode, he 


THE PIONEERS. 


277 


was compelled to beg a blanket, in which he might 
envelope his form, in addition to the numerous 
garments that his sagacity had provided for the oc- 
casion. The divine and his daughter remained, as 
inmates of the Mansion-house, during the night, 
and the excess of last night’s merriment induced 
the gentlemen to make an early retreat to their 
several apartments. Long before midnight, the 
whole family were invisible. 

Elizabeth and her friend had not yet lost their 
senses in sleep, when the bowlings of the north- 
west wind were heard around the buildings, and 
brought with them that exquisite sense oLcomfort, 
that is ever excited under such circumstances, in 
an apartment where the fire has not yet ceased to 
glimmer ; and curtains, and shutters, and feathers, 
unite to preserve the desired temperature in the 
air. Once, just as her eyes had opened, apparently 
in the last stage of drowsiness, the roaring winds 
brought with them a long and plaintive howl, that 
seemed too wild for a dog, and yet strongly resem- 
bled the cries of that faithful animal, when night 
awakens his vigilance, and gives sweetness and so- 
lemnity to his alarms. The form of Louisa Grant 
instinctively pressed nearer to that of the young 
heiress, who, finding her companion was yet awake, 
said, in a low tone, as if afraid to break a charm 
with her voice — 

“ Those distant cries are plaintive, and even 
beautiful. Can they be the hounds from the hut 
of Leather-stocking ?” 

“ They are wolves, who have ventured from the 
mountain, on the lake,” whispered Louisa, “ and 
who are only kept from the village by the lights. 
One night, since we have been here, hunger drove 
them to our very doors. Oh! what a dreadful 
night it w^as! But the riches of Judge Temple 


278 


THE PIONEERS. 


have given him too many safeguards, to leave room 
for fear in this house.” 

‘‘ The enterprise of Judge Temple is taming the 
very forestsi” exclaimed Elizabeth, proudly, throw 
ing off the covering, and partly rising in the bed. 
“How rapidly is civilization treading on the foot- 
steps of rfature !” she continued, as her eye glanced 
over, not only the comforts, but the luxuries of her 
apartment, and her ear again listened to the dis- 
tant, but often repeated howls from the lake. 
Finding, however, that the timidity of her com- 
panion rendered the sounds painful to her, Eliza- 
beth resumed her place by her side, and soon for- 
got the changes in the* country, wdth those in her 
own condition, in a deep sleep. 

The following morning, the noise of the female 
servant, w^ho entered the apartment to light their 
fire, awoke the young maidens who form such con- 
spicuous subjects in our tale. They arose, and 
finished the slight preparations of their toilets in 
a clear, cold atmosphere, that penetrated through 
all the defences of even Miss Temple’s w^arm room. 
When Elizabeth was attired, she approached a 
window and drew its curtain, and, throwing open 
its shutters, she endeavoured to look abroad on the 
village and the lake. But a thick covering of frost, 
on the panes of glass, while it admitted the light, 
hid the view. She raised the sash, and then, in- 
deed, a most glorious scene met her delighted eye. 

The lake had exchanged its covering of unspot- 
ted snow, for a face of dark ice, that reflected the 
rays of the rising sun, like a polished mirror. The 
houses were clothed in a dress of the same descrip- 
tion, but w^hich, owing to its position, shone like 
bright steel ; while the enormous icicles, that were 
pendent from every roof, caught \he brilliant light, 
apparently throwing it from one to the other, as 


THE PIOriEERS. 


. 279 


each glittered, bn the side next to the luminary, 
with a golden lustre, that melted away, on its op- 
posite, into the dusky shades of a background. 
But it was the appearance of the boundless forests, 
that covered the hills, as they rose, in the distance, 
one over the other, that most attracted the gaze 
of Miss Temple. The huge branches of the pines 
and hemlocks, on the western mountains, bent 
with the weight of the ice they supported, while 
their summits rose above the swelling tops of the 
oaks, beeches, and maples, like spires of burnished 
silver issuing from domes of the same material. 
The limits of the view, in this direction, were 
marked by an undulating outline of bright light, as 
if, reversing the order of nature, numberless suns 
might momentarily be expected to heave above the 
w^estern horizon. In the foreground of the pic- 
ture, along the shores of the lake, and near to the 
village, each tree seemed studded with diamonds, 
that emitted their dancing rays, as the branches 
waved gently under the impulse of the air. Even 
the sides of the mountains where the rays of the 
sun could not yet fall, were decorated with a glassy 
coat, that presented every gradation of brilliancy, 
from the first touch of the luminary to the dark 
foliage of the hemlock, glistening through its coat 
of crystal. In short, the whole view w'as one scene 
of quivering radiancy, as lake, mountains, village, 
and woods, each emitted a portion of light, tinged 
with its peculiar hue, and varied by its position and 
its magnitude. 

“ See !” cried J^lizabeth — “ see, Louisa ; hasten 
to the window, and observe the miraculous change.” 

Miss Grant complied ; and, after bending for a 
moment in silence from the opening, she observed, 
in a low tone, as if afraid to trust the sound of her 
voice — 


280 


THE PIONEERS. 


‘‘ The change is indeed wonderful ! I am sur- 
prised that he should be able to effect it so soon.’' 

Elizabeth turned in amazement, to hear such a 
skeptical sentiment from one educated like her 
companion ; but was surprised to find that, instead 
of looking, at the view', the mild, blue eyes of Miss 
Grant w'ere dwelling on the form of a well-dressed 
young man, who was standing before the door of 
the building, in earnest conversation with her fa- 
ther. A second look was necessary, before she 
was able to recognise the person of the young 
hunter, in a plain, but, assuredly, the ordinary garb 
of a gentleman. 

‘‘ Every thing in this magical country seems to 
border on the marvellous,” said Elizabeth ; “ and 
among all the changes, this is certainly not the least 
wonderful. I am not surprised, that your eye 
caught ' this transformation, without noticing the 
changes in the view. The actors are as unique as 
the scenery.” 

Miss Grant coloured highly, and drew in her 
head, as she answered — 

“ I am a simple girl, Miss Temple, and I am 
afraid you w ill find me but a poor companion. I 
— I am not sure that I understand all that you say. 
But I really thought that you wished me to notice 
the alteration in Mr. Edwards. Is it not more 
wonderful, when we recollect his origin ? They 
say he is part Indian.” 

He is certainly a genteel savage,” returned 
the smiling Elizabeth. “ But let us go down, and 
give the Sachem his tea ; — for I suppose he is a 
descendant of King Philip, if not a grandson of 
Pocahontas.” 

The ladies were met in the hall by Judge Tem- 
ple, wdio took his daughter aside, to apprise her of 


THE PIOKEEKS. 


281 


that alteration in the appearance of their new in- 
mate, with which she was already acquainted. 

“ He appears reluctant to converse on his for- 
mer situation,” continued Marmaduke; “but I 
gather from his discourse, as is apparent from his 
manner, that he has seen better days ; and I really 
am inclining to the opinion of Richard, as to his 
origin ; for it was no unusual thing for the Indian 
Agents to rear their children in a laudable manner, 
and” 

“ Very well, my dear sir,” interrupted his daugh- 
ter, laughing, and averting her eyes ; “ it is all well 
enough, I dare say ; but as I do not understand a 
word of the Mohawk language, he must be content 
to speak English ; and as for his behaviour, I trust 
to your discernment to control it.” 

“ Ay ! but, Bess,” said the Judge, detaining her 
gently with his hand, “ nothing must be said to him 
of his past life. This he has begged particularly 
of me, as a favour. He is, perhaps, a little soured, 
just now, with his wounded arm ; but the injury 
seems very light, and another time he may be more 
communicative.” 

“ Oh ! I am not much troubled, sir, with that 
laudable thirst after knowledge, that is called curi- 
>sity. I shall believe him to be the child of Corn- 
stalk, or Corn-planter, or some other renowned 
chieftain ; possibly of the Big Snake himself ; and 
shall treat him as such, until he sees fit to shave 
his good-looking head, borrow some half-dozen 
pair of my best earrings, shoulder his rifle again, 
and disappear as suddenly as he made his entrance. 
So come, my dear sir, and let us not forget the rites 
of hospitality, for the short time he is to remain 
with us.” 

Judge Temple smiled at the graceful playfulness 
of his child, and taking her arm, they entered the 
24 * 


282 


THE PIONEERS. 


breakfast parlour, where the young hunter was 
seated, with an air that showed his determination 
t6 domesticate himself in the family, with as little 
parade as possible. 

Such were the incidents that led to this extra- 
ordinary 'increase in the family of Judge Temple, 
where, having once established the youth, the sub- 
ject of our tale requires us to leave him, for a time, 
to pursue with diligence and intelligence the em- 
ployments that w ere assigned him by Marmaduke. 

Major Hartmann made his customary visit, and 
took his leave of the party, for the next three 
months. Mr. Grant was compelled to be absent 
much of his time, in remote parts of the country, 
and his daughter became almost a constant visitei 
at the Mansion-house. Richard entered, with hi? 
constitutional eagerness, on the duties of his new 
office; and, as Marmaduke was much employed, 
with the constant applications of adventurers for 
farms, the winter passed swiftly away. The lake 
w’as a principal scene for the amusements of the 
young people ; where the ladies, in their one-horse 
cutter, driven by Richard, and attended, when the 
snow would admit of it, by young Edwards, on his 
skates, spent many hours, taking the benefit of ex- 
ercise in the clear air of the hills. The reserve of 
the youth gradually gave way to time and his situa- 
tion, though it was still evident, to a close observer, 
that he had frequent moments of bitter and intense 
feeling. 

Elizabeth saw^ many large openings appear in the 
sides of the mountains during the three succeeding 
months, w^here different settlers had, in the lan- 
guage of the country, “ made their pitch wffiile 
the numberless sleighs that passed through the vil- 
lage, loaded with w^heat and barrels of pot-ashes, 
afforded a clear demonstration that all these labours 


THE PIONEERS. 


283 


were not undertaken in vain. In short, the whole 
country was exhibiting the bustle of a thriving set- 
tlement, where the highways were thronged with 
sleighs, bearing piles of rough household furniture ; 
studded, here and there, with the smiling faces 
women and children, happy in the excitement of 
novelty ; or with loads of produce, hastening to the 
common market at Albany, that served as so m-^ny 
snares, to induce the emigrants to enter into those 
wild mountains in search of competence and happi- 
ness. 

The village was alive with business ; the artisans 
increasing in wealth with the prosperity of the 
country, and each day witnessing some nearer ap- 
proach to the manners and usages of an old-settled 
town. The man who carried the mail, or “ the 
post,” as he was called, talked much of running a 
stage, and, once or twice during the winter, he was 
seen taking a single passenger, in his cutter, through 
the snow-banks, towards the Mohawk, along which 
a regular vehicle glided, semi- weekly, with the ve- 
locity of lightning, and under the direction of a 
knowing whip from the “ down countries.” To- 
wards spring, divers families, who had been into 
the/‘ old states,” to see their relatives, returned, 
in time to save the snow, frequently bringing with 
them whole neighbourhoods, who were tempted by 
their representations to leave the farms of Con- 
necticut and Massachusetts, and make a trial in the 
woods for fortune. 

During all this time, Oliver Edwards, whose 
sudden elevation excited no surprise in that change- 
ful country, was earnestly engaged in the service 
of Marmaduke, during the days; but his nights 
were often spent in the hut of Leather-stocking. 
The intercourse between the three hunters was 
maintained with a certain air of mystery, it is true, 


284 


THE PIONEERS. 


but with much zeal and apparent interest to all the 
parties. . Even Mohegan seldom came to the Man- 
sion-house, and Natty, never ; but Edwards sought 
every leisure moment to visit his former abode, 
from which he would often return in the gloomy 
hours of night, through the snow, or, if detained 
beyond the time at which the family retired to rest, 
with the morning sun. These visits certainly ex- 
cited much speculation in those to whom they were 
known, but no comments were made, excepting 
occasionally, in wliispers from Richard, who would 
say — 

It is not at all remarkable ; — a half-breed can 
never be weaned from the savage ways, any more 
than a full-blooded Indian.” 


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